+
Premiere in Germany’s capital: VoloDrone visits Berlin for the first time
Company News

Premiere in Germany’s capital: VoloDrone visits Berlin for the first time

Innovation for supply chains: Together, the urban air mobility pioneer Volocopter and global logistics service provider DB Schenker are developing solutions for the fast and emission-free transport of goods. Today, Volocopter’s heavy-lift drone was presented to German federal politicians for the first time. At the National Aviation Conference (Nationale Luftfahrtkonferenz) at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, numerous politicians and representatives from the aviation industry visited the VoloDrone. The aircraft is autonomously and electrically operated and can transport up to 200 kg of cargo with a range of up to 40 km.

Says Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker, “Our customers demand clean, fast and innovative solutions for their supply chains. When the infrastructure for conventional means of transport is overburdened or non-existent, cargo drones offer an opportunity to rethink logistics routes. The possible applications in logistics are limitless. Through our partnership with Volocopter, this vision is gradually becoming reality. Drone transport is becoming increasingly tangible. The National Aviation Conference in Berlin offers us a very good opportunity to give German politicians a live impression of this.”

Adds Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter, “Our VoloDrone will be put to use, where classical ground transportation meets its limits in logistics, construction, or agriculture. We have ten years of flight experience and our advanced status in the certifications process with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) bears tremendous synergies for all our aircraft. DB Schenker is a leading logistics partner, with whom we are readying our VoloDrone specifically for the commercial use in different logistics applications.”

The VoloDrone exhibited onsite at the National Aviation Conference is a test aircraft from Volocopter with a sample transport container from DB Schenker. In commercial operation, it will be able to cover distances of up to 40 km. The drone is 9.15 m in diameter and 2.15 m tall. The VoloDrone aircraft weighs 600 kg with an additional payload of up to 200 kg. The drone operations will be fully electric with autonomous beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities. The drone can take off and land vertically. The first flight took place in 2019. Since then, regular flight tests have been conducted at various airfields in southern Germany.

Future logistical applications for the heavy-lift drone include places that are difficult or slower to reach by other means, such as islands, land-to-ship deliveries, transport to mountainous regions, or places isolated from road networks following natural disasters. Intra-city deliveries are also plausible use cases.

DB Schenker has been an investor in Volocopter since 2020. Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker, is a member of the advisory board. The goal is to further the development and market launch of the VoloDrone for the logistics industry. DB Schenker is testing numerous innovative and forward-looking technologies worldwide in order to make its services for customers even more flexible and climate-friendly and to further reduce noise emissions and pollution.

Innovation for supply chains: Together, the urban air mobility pioneer Volocopter and global logistics service provider DB Schenker are developing solutions for the fast and emission-free transport of goods. Today, Volocopter’s heavy-lift drone was presented to German federal politicians for the first time. At the National Aviation Conference (Nationale Luftfahrtkonferenz) at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, numerous politicians and representatives from the aviation industry visited the VoloDrone. The aircraft is autonomously and electrically operated and can transport up to 200 kg of cargo with a range of up to 40 km. Says Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker, “Our customers demand clean, fast and innovative solutions for their supply chains. When the infrastructure for conventional means of transport is overburdened or non-existent, cargo drones offer an opportunity to rethink logistics routes. The possible applications in logistics are limitless. Through our partnership with Volocopter, this vision is gradually becoming reality. Drone transport is becoming increasingly tangible. The National Aviation Conference in Berlin offers us a very good opportunity to give German politicians a live impression of this.” Adds Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter, “Our VoloDrone will be put to use, where classical ground transportation meets its limits in logistics, construction, or agriculture. We have ten years of flight experience and our advanced status in the certifications process with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) bears tremendous synergies for all our aircraft. DB Schenker is a leading logistics partner, with whom we are readying our VoloDrone specifically for the commercial use in different logistics applications.” The VoloDrone exhibited onsite at the National Aviation Conference is a test aircraft from Volocopter with a sample transport container from DB Schenker. In commercial operation, it will be able to cover distances of up to 40 km. The drone is 9.15 m in diameter and 2.15 m tall. The VoloDrone aircraft weighs 600 kg with an additional payload of up to 200 kg. The drone operations will be fully electric with autonomous beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities. The drone can take off and land vertically. The first flight took place in 2019. Since then, regular flight tests have been conducted at various airfields in southern Germany. Future logistical applications for the heavy-lift drone include places that are difficult or slower to reach by other means, such as islands, land-to-ship deliveries, transport to mountainous regions, or places isolated from road networks following natural disasters. Intra-city deliveries are also plausible use cases. DB Schenker has been an investor in Volocopter since 2020. Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker, is a member of the advisory board. The goal is to further the development and market launch of the VoloDrone for the logistics industry. DB Schenker is testing numerous innovative and forward-looking technologies worldwide in order to make its services for customers even more flexible and climate-friendly and to further reduce noise emissions and pollution.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India to Invest Rs 600 Billion to Upgrade 1,000 ITIs

As part of its drive to modernise vocational training, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with Gujarat’s Labour and Employment Department, held a State-Level Workshop at the NAMTECH Campus within IIT-Gandhinagar to discuss the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation.The consultation brought together key stakeholders from industry and the training ecosystem to align expectations and support implementation of the scheme, which aims to transform 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across India using a hub-and-spoke model. The total outlay stands ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India Unveils Rs 600 Billion Maritime Finance Push

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) hosted the Maritime Financing Summit 2025 in New Delhi, bringing together over 250 stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, global investors, and financial institutions. The summit, held under the ambit of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, focused on transforming India into a leading maritime power with strengthened financial, infrastructural, and technological capabilities.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised India's strategic progress, noting that average port turnaround times have dropped from four days to u..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Govt Allocates Rs 500 Million To Boost Community Radio

The Central Government, through its ‘Supporting Community Radio Movement in India’ scheme, has allocated Rs 500 million to strengthen the community radio ecosystem across the country. The initiative aims to assist both newly established and long-operational Community Radio Stations (CRSs), ensuring their relevance to local educational, social, cultural, and developmental needs.According to the policy published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CRSs may be set up by not-for-profit organisations with at least three years of demonstrated community service. These stations are ex..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?