EVENTS
After a longer than usual wait, pest professionals from all over the world came together last week as PestEx finally returned to the ExCeL in London.
Around 1,458 people descended on the exhibition hall on 16-17 March to network, discover new products and listen to hours of seminars on pest management topics.
More than 80 pest management manufacturers and distributors packed out the exhibition hall with incredible-looking stands, fantastic new products and creative games with giveaways for winners.
Many PestEx regulars were in attendance, like 1env, Edialux, Killgerm, RSPH, Lodi UK and Bayer.
Lots of new exhibitors there were too; Metex, Hamelin, BigChange, Fen Pest Control and Italian manufacturers Microwave Technology SRL, to name a few.
We’ll be doing a full write-up of the new and innovative products we saw in the next issue of PPC magazine.
There were plenty of games on the stands for attendees to try their hand at, from the Barrettine F1 racing simulator to BASF’s ever-popular Whack-a-Rat, and new exhibitors like BBWear holding competitions.
And that’s not to mention the PROtect and PestEx reaction game on the BPCA stand, which saw those with the speediest reactions duke it out for the top prize - a PlayStation 5. In the end, a high score of 51 bagged technician Alister Ketley the games console.
Lauren Day, Events Manager at BPCA, added:
“We were thrilled to be back at the ExCeL for PestEx again and it was amazing to see all the effort our exhibitors put into making their stands exciting and engaging.
“As always, we couldn’t do it without their support and the support of our seminar speakers, so a huge thank you to them.
“And of course, the BPCA Staff team had a wonderful time meeting attendees and putting faces to names, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year at PPC Live!”
The BPCA team has learnt a lot about connecting with the pest community digitally over the last couple of years, but that will never replace the physical human connection that our sector’s built on.
Ian Andrew, BPCA Chief Executive
Ian Andrew, BPCA Chief Executive, was very pleased with the event overall, commenting:
“There’s nothing better than seeing the whole spectrum of the pest control sector coming together in real life once more.
“Our exhibitors were fantastic. Their stands looked amazing and kept the visitors well engaged.
“However, PestEx isn’t just about technicians and business owners finding new products. Important connections were made at every level.
“The BPCA team has learnt a lot about connecting with the pest community digitally over the last couple of years, but that will never replace the physical human connection that our sector’s built on.
“From the team talks in the coffee area, to the collaborations between exhibitors, and the ideas shared between companies from across the world – nothing beats PestEx for making long-lasting relationships.”
He continued, “Exhibitor and visitor feedback so far has been extremely positive. For us, the main celebration was that PestEx finally went ahead.
“Beyond that, there is no point in comparing it to previous years as the world and how we live our lives daily has changed. The whole events sector is still very much in recovery, and while I’m sure attendance figures will grow again in the future, we were extremely pleased with the 1,458 visitors we welcomed to the ExCeL.
“Our range of seminars was exceptional, with many filled to the point where it was standing room only. We’d especially like to thank those amazing speakers from outside the sector that came to share their insights.
“I was very encouraged by the number of international exhibitors and visitors. I welcomed guests from sister associations, including the USA, Australia, Europe and Pakistan. I was delighted that Dominique Stumph could join us at our 80th-anniversary celebration at the Palace of Westminster, home of the UK parliament.
“Thanks again to everyone who made PestEx 2022 so special, and we look forward to seeing you at PPC Live in Harrogate, Yorkshire next March.”
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