Held every other year, this leading event for the Benelux market was held on 25 April in the NH Conference Centre Koningshof at Veldhoven, the Netherlands. It was the second time this one day event was held at this easy to reach location near Eindhoven.
This year the weather was perfect, which made amends for the bad weather the previous time, resulting in record number of exhibiting companies and visitors attending – 488 to be precise! Whilst the majority of delegates came from the home Benelux market, at least 10 further countries were represented with a good sprinkling from the UK and Germany.
This was the eighth running of Benelux Pest, organised by Pest Control News and managed by Rinus van Zanten, retired managing director of Killgerm Benelux and Yvonne van Gorp, public relation manager at Killgerm Benelux.
Our thanks goes to Joeke Nijboer, the editor of the Dutch Pest Control News (seen right) for supplying this report and some of the pictures. The balance of the pictures come from Stefano Scarponi of Bleu Line Group. |
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In total there were 52 exhibitors, consisting of the well known international companies but also, as to be expected, several Dutch and Belgian companies, including Tilmar Spouwsafe, Wespenbeheer, Rodent Watch, Pestwatcher, Q-Chem BV and PestScan.
Many new products were on display, especially rodenticides, as well as companies showing their electronic mice and rat trapping systems. These are increasing in their sophistication with the addition of sensors in order to prevent false observations and to get more information on the climate system in the building, like temperature and humidity. Because WiFi connection is sometimes not optimal several electronic trapping systems are connected by 4G to the pest controller’s and customer’s computer system.
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Have a rest – go to one of the seminars!
Running alongside was a series of technical seminars. The first one was given by Dr Sara Burt, IRAS, Veterinary Faculty, University Utrecht, on public motives to control pests. The second part of her lecture was on rat and mouse allergens in domestic houses, concluding with the role rodents can play in spreading avian influenza.
Dr Kai Sievert, technical manager for Syngenta, talked about pro-insecticides, the safest solutions in the food industry. He demonstrated that baits, like the Advion gel products, can be safely used in the food industry. Finally, Dr Thorsten Storck, technical manager for BASF addressed alternatives to anticoagulants, from the BASF laboratory perspective. He quoted the well-know English proverb that ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating’, highly relevant when it comes to the palatability of rodent bait.
Human eating, drinking and entertainment!
Eating, drinking and discussion are also important issues at these types of events. This was practiced in the exhibition restaurant area, at the ‘Happy Hour’, sponsored by Bayer and at the PCN Walking Dinner. The 110 guests at the PCN dinner were entertained by the Berkley Brothers and the magician Marc Woods who showed his dexterity to the surprised audience.
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