Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

Drones to Drop Blood Over Rwanda

California-based startup Zipline launches drone delivery service to bring medical supplies to isolated areas.

A Zip making a delivery. / Photo: Zipline
A Zip making a delivery. / Photo: Zipline

An October 13th Washington Post article put a spotlight on Zipline, a startup using drones to deliver medical supplies to remote communities. Their small robot airplanes, called Zips, are capable of traveling 150 km round trip to deliver vaccines, medicines, and blood. The first application of the concept will be delivering blood to health clinics in Rwanda.

Rather than driving several hours to the nearest blood bank, health workers can order a specific blood type via text. Within minutes, a Zip is prepared and launched into the sky, where it flies at speeds up to 75 mph before dropping a parachute carrying supplies over the target clinic.

“People have this sense that the U.S. leads the world in terms of technology and then Africa catches up, and I actually think that might be changing,” said Keller Rinaudo, Zipline’s CEO. “This is a great example. It’s actually smaller countries like Rwanda that are willing to take risks and actually invest in something radically new.”

Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO