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MM: Meet Oscar Mayer's New Weinerdrone; An Elevator Without Cables

In this Manufacturing Minute episode, an elevator without cables and Oscar Mayer adds drones to its Weinermobile fleet.

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Oscar Mayer Expands Weinermobile Fleet With Hot Dog-Shaped Drones

The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile has been around since 1936 and, since its inception, it’s purpose was to reach hot dog fans in even the most remote of locales. And, similar to other food brands like KFC, 7 Eleven or Domino’s, it’s now expanding its reach to include delivery via drone.

So, just in time for the Fourth of July, Oscar Mayer released a video introduction the latest addition to its Weinerfleet called the Weinerdrone. The hot dog-shaped drone weighs in at around 6.5 pounds with only a flight time of about 15 minutes and a maximum altitude of 1,200 feet. It also only has enough staying power to lift a single hot dog while in flight, which definitely pales in comparison to the classic Weinermobile that can hold up to 27,000 hot dogs.

The Weinerdrone’s debut also comes alongside a major overhaul of Oscar Mayer’s product, specifically the decision to remove all added nirates, nitrites, by-products and artificial preservatives from the company’s entire line of hot dogs.

And, if you want to see the Weinerdrone in action, the entire fleet of weiner vehicles will be on display in Weiner, Arkansas, for a Fourth of July celebration.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What do you think about the latest addition to Oscar Mayer’s Weinerfleet? Tweet me your thoughts @MnetNews or leave your comments in the section below.

Elevator Without Cables

We all remember the iconic glass elevator scene from ‘Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory’, however an elevator that moves any which way has been a fantasy. Until now.

ThyssenKrupp has finished its first tests of its elevator named Multi that can move horizontally as well as vertically. The new system has also traded in cables for rails and magnetic fields similar to Maglev trains.

The German company says replacing cables with linear motors that let cabins move both vertically and horizontally — would allow for more cabins to travel in a single shaft.

The company estimates the Multi system reduces the cabin weight by up to 50 percent which allows them to operate in smaller elevator shafts. They estimate the system could increase a building’s usable space by as much as 25 percent.

While all that extra space and architectural design possibilities are appealing, the cost could prevent the technology from becoming standard anytime soon. The system costs up to five times as much as a standard elevator system.

However, the company has already signed on its first customer and a planned tower in Berlin will feature the Multi. The building is expected to be completed in 2019.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Do you think the Multi can deliver on its promise of reducing passenger wait times while increasing a building’s usable space? How could this technology be used in a manufacturing environment? Tell us what you think in the comments below.