PPC Live Draws the Crowds

Editor's Note: The UK pest control industry gathered for PPC Live 2023, held near Harrogate, Yorkshire on March 22. Organized by the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), this one-day show is the highlight of the spring calendar and runs in alternate years to PestEx held in London. UK-based journalist Frances McKim attended and filed the following report.

Held on a beautiful spring day, over 1,300 delegates had registered in advance for the event, and they were joined by those registering on the day. The show was officially opened with a ribbon cutting by BPCA President Chris Cagienard.

There were nearly 60 exhibitor stands including those representing the international manufacturers with bases in the UK such as Bell Laboratories, Syngenta, BASF and Envu. Joining them were several of the UK-owned manufacturers and distributors including PelGar, Edialux, Russell IPM, PestWest, Killgerm and 1Env Solutions.

Amongst the new exhibitors was Aurocon. Founded by Preben Asp from Denmark, the company has researched and developed a non-toxic automated rodent control system which is currently being trialed in the U.S.

Throughout the day were a series of topical indoor and outdoor presentations, and a demonstration area featuring insect identification.

Presented by Dr .Richard and Alexia Naylor from the Bed Bug Foundation, they charted the rise of bed bug complaints over the last 20 years prior to their collapse caused, primarily, by the lack travel due to the covid pandemic.

“It may well be five years before we understand the effect of COVID,” Dr Naylor predicted.

The star of this presentation was bed bug search dog Benji accompanied by his handler Brian Leith who demonstrated the art of searching a bed for bed bugs.

Niall Moore and Iain Henderson, representing the Government’s Non-Native Species Secretariat and Directorate, outlined the threats posed by invading pest species in the UK. On the top of their list are the Asian hornet and Asian Tiger mosquito.

Summing up the day’s events, Ian Andrew, BPCA chief executive said, “We are glad to once again be back to Harrogate. PPC Live 2020 took place just days before the country went into the first Covid-19 lockdown, meaning we then had to skip a year. There has been a real buzz today amongst all the delegates and exhibitors with the seminars have been particularly well supported. I look forward to welcoming everyone next year in London for PestEx 2024.”