TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Officials from the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office visited I-Mei Foods Co.’s factory in Taoyuan’s Longtan District on Tuesday, touring its food production lines, energy-saving systems, and drone facility.
The visitors were greeted with a banner from I-Mei partner 7A Drones before watching a demonstration of the company’s unmanned aerial vehicle applications in agriculture. I-Mei also unveiled two large drones under development, designed for search and rescue, cargo transport, and container delivery.
The delegation toured I-Mei’s Bong-Khang Wind Tunnel, a 45-meter-long, 5-meter-wide facility built to test UAVs under extreme conditions such as wind, rain, heat, and cold. The tunnel also includes a track for robotic dogs on rough terrain including pebbles, sand, mud, and water.
Other stops included I-Mei’s ice storage system, featuring five silos between 9 and 21 meters tall that produce ice using off-peak electricity for daytime air conditioning. A container-sized ice storage unit was also displayed.
Officials sampled freeze-dried snacks and learned about the company’s vacuum freeze dryer system, which uses low-temperature freezing, vacuum drying, and ice sublimation to remove moisture while preserving flavor and nutrients.
I-Mei highlighted its history, commitment to food safety, and continued investment in modern equipment. The company also presented its drone development and training program for university students, outlining content and duration.
7A Drones CEO Dwayne Hsu (許新勝) and Chelpis CEO Chih Ming-yang (池明洋), another I-Mei partner, introduced their companies’ technologies and operations.
Wara Agustina Rukmini, trade department director at the Indonesian Trade Office, praised I-Mei for its automation, food safety, and UAV innovation. She expressed interest in agricultural drone cooperation and pledged to support bringing I-Mei’s UAV training program to Indonesian universities.
Atty. Alejandro Padaen, director of the Migrant Worker Service Department, said the training program could aid agricultural development in the Philippines and help students obtain drone operating licenses.
In June, an Indonesian delegation led by Putu Juli Ardika, director general at Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry, also toured I-Mei, commending its progress in automation, food safety, and UAV technology.
*I-Mei is the parent company of Taiwan News
