The first concrete test flights took place on Wednesday and the first transports should take place soon, Virginie-Marie Walthoff from BASF Antwerp told the VRT broadcaster Radio 2: “We want to use drones to transport our petrochemical samples to SGS on the right bank of the Scheldt at short notice “.
SGS tests the quality of the raw materials that are brought to Antwerp for production on behalf of BASF: “Ships bring the raw materials to BASF that we need in the plants to manufacture our products. Before we use these raw materials, we have their quality analyzed with samples at SGS. If these samples are found to be good there, we can unload the substances from the ships to continue production.”
The drone service provider ADLC will ensure the flights between BASF and SGS. This transport with drones offers many advantages, because it takes about an hour for the samples to be delivered by road. Drones only need about 10 minutes for the distance, which also includes crossing the Scheldt.
But this also saves BASF other costs, according to Walthoff: “The longer a ship has to dock with us, the more costs it entails.” % return.”
