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Drone company signs agreement with Wolseley

Two parties are discussing ways to expand Wolseley’s distribution network
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Drone Delivery Canada has signed an agreement with Wolseley Canada Inc. to test the potential of delivery plumbing and heating parts via drone. (DDC photo)

Drones could one day be delivering plumbing and HVAC parts to distribution centres and customers, thanks to an agreement between Drone Delivery Canada and Wolseley Canada Inc.

On Oct. 19, the two parties announced they had signed an agreement to explore ways to expand Wolseley’s distribution capabilities.

Wolseley distributes plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, waterworks, fire protection, pipes, valves and fittings, and industrial products.

In prototyping, the parties would look at the potential of drones delivering Wolseley products between depots, or from depots to customers.

But a number of issues have to be resolved before drone delivery becomes standard practice, including having government legislation in place.

“We believe that we are the only drone delivery company in Canada to successfully achieve Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) testing and are very pleased to announce this agreement with Wolseley Canada, one of the leading plumbing and HVAC/R distributors in Canada,” said Tony Di Benedetto, CEO of Drone Delivery Canada, in a release.

“As drone payloads increase, we think drone deliveries will radically improve on-time delivery.”

The agreement with Wolseley follows an earlier announcement that Drone Delivery Canada would start test flights to Moose Cree First Nation, to deliver mail, food, medical supplies, and general goods to residents.