Always a popular event PestTech 2015 held at its usual venue of the National Motorcycle museum on 4 November lived up to all expectations.
| Organised by the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) visitors to PestTech were officially a bit lower than the previous year, but you could be forgiven for not noticing, as it was very much standing room only at times. The official figure recorded by NPTA was 1,147 visitors plus a further 208 exhibitor staff (1,268 visitors in 2014). To this you need to add those who crept-in the back door and failed to register. In total, there were just over 50 exhibiting organisations including a fair number exhibiting for the first time.
This compares very favourably with PestEx 2015 which recorded 1,788 visitors (excluding exhibitor staff) over what is a two day show, or 340 visitors at the inaugural PPC Live event in 2014. Commenting on behalf of NPTA, Julie Haresign (ná©e Gillies) said: “As far as NPTA is concerned, PestTech just gets better and better and the feedback from visitors is extremely positive. We also had very good reviews about the day generally and also the seminars.” |
Plenty of opportunity for a hands-on look |
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More international visitors One thing which was noticeable and which several exhibitors commented upon, was the increased number of international visitors. One always thinks of PestEx as having an international following and PestTech as being more home market orientated. Maybe the proximity to Birmingham international airport is now recognised as a help to overseas travellers or maybe the UK market is increasingly viewed as the leader within Europe. Lively exhibition The three exhibition halls were packed with companies new and old. Since last year there had been a few changes in stand positioning and also stand sizes – due mainly to company acquisitions or expansions. The space previously taken by AgroPharm had been expanded and bore the PelGar banner following their acquisition of that company earlier in the year. PestFix and 1env Solutions both had larger stands and the Pelsis stand was jolly large, but did include all their companies – namely Network, Insect-O-Cutor and SX Environmental (soon to be Edialux). Without doubt though, the Killgerm stand in the Compton room dwarfed all the others, followed in size by BASF and Bayer. Fewer live exhibits Live exhibits were fewer and further apart than in previous years – for example the usual display of birds of prey from JRCS Falconry was missing. PelGar had some all too charming live mice and Barrettine was holding an insect eating competition – but fortunaltly these were dead! Seminar programme popular As ever the seminar programme proved popular – topics ranged from Asian hornets to the Pest Control News workshop which debated the new Rodenticide Stewardship programme.
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David Brazier of WaspBane looks a happy chappie with two international visitors from Italy on his stand
On the PelGar stand – far too sweet to be a pest
Lunch anyone? |
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Worth venturing outside As in previous years Simon Whitehead put his ferrets through their paces and visitors could try their hand with a range of air rifles on the gun range courtesy of ATEO. New this year was a drone flying display. In addition to a stand in the exhibition, James Rawlings of Wide Horizons put one of his drones through its paces – although special clearance was first required from Birmingham airport. The use of drones is becoming increasingly popular – as detailed for bird surveying as described in a recent article in issue 41 of Pest. So, congratulations NPTA for another great event. PPC Live next on the agenda For those who missed PestTech, get PPC Live in your diaries now. It will be held on 16 March 2016 at the East of England showground, Peterborough.
The Killgerm stand was almost large enough to be its own exhibition |
Wide Horizons puts one of their drones through their paces
Plenty of time to ask all those questions |
