PPC123 | PESTEX
From sleek and stylish to engaging and fun, PestEx 2026 gave visitors to the expo a huge range of activities, product demos, networking opportunities and games over two days in London. In a world where we’re all striving to demonstrate professionalism, this year’s theme was about levelling up and delivering more. PPC reporter Natalie Wakefield gives a rundown of PestEx and why it’s the jewel in our events crown.
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PestEx played host to around 2,100 people and over 1,600 visitors between 18 and 19 March this year, for the UK’s biggest pest control event.
Held at London’s Excel Centre, the event brought together delegates from all over the globe to network, discover new products, and attend seminars and debates on pest management and business topics.
More than 125 pest management manufacturers and distributors packed out the exhibition hall with incredible-looking stands, fantastic new products and creative games with giveaways for winners.
With everything from specially crafted computer games to hammering nails into a hunk of wood and a full-on Wild West Saloon, the event offered visitors every opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of professional pest control.
Networking
The coffee lounge, sponsored by Bell Laboratories was a central point for networking and refuelling for visitors over a busy two days.
It played host to a Young Professionals meeting, attended by BPCA Chief Exec Rosina Robson and Chair of BPCA’s EDI Committee, Julia Pittman.
Rosina commented, “PestEx is the best opportunity pest professionals get to forge new partnerships, build lasting business relationships and make connections. That exchange of knowledge and ideas is so important for professionals both experienced and new. We particularly wanted to get to know the new faces in the industry and it was a really productive conversation.”
Gaining XP
Delegates enhanced their learning and earnt CPD points by attending panel discussions and talks in the Technical Theatre (sponsored by Syngenta Advion) and the Spotlight Theatre (sponsored by Dot).
The event’s debate sessions very well-attended, with topics such as delivering pest control specifications, working with EHOs, insecticide resistance and smarter surveying techniques.
An explosive debate session on selling your pest business was well-received, with lots of interaction from the audience.
In the Technical Theatre, there was a talk on wood boring insects with Nicholas Donnithorpe (Rentokil) which got great feedback.
There was also a very warm reception for what could have been a difficult subject on being more ‘wasp positive’ with Professor Seirian Sumner: see pages 22-23 for details.
Even some of the more HR and business topics, which weren’t the most highly attended, received glowing feedback. On Hema Mistry’s talk regarding the Employment Rights Act changes, one person said, “It’s the best seminar I’ve seen over the
two days”.
Next level games
The Pelsis practical proofing’s speediest hogringing challenge helped set the tone for what was probably the most competitive PestEx ever. Among the most memorable activities at PestEx was Defender Bird Spikes’ hammer competition. The rules were simple: using just one hand, hammer a nail into a hunk of wood in the fewest hits. And if you want to, knock back a cheeky drink to celebrate.
Supreme Environmental had a PS5 up for grabs for top scorers in their darts challenge, while Killgerm were celebrating 50 years with a prize draw for a Harrods hamper, as well as announcing the Golden Ticket Easter Bonanza – in April purchasers who found a golden ticket after buying BASF products through Killgerm were in line to win a prize ranging from a chocolate egg to an exclusive factory tour.
And the fun continued with delegates testing their observation skills, with PestWest’s Spot the AI Fly game as well as taking on the Opti-Catch’s fastest EFK retrofit challenge and Cliverton Insurance Brokers spin the wheel giveaway.
Living up to the theme ‘Are you ready to level up?’ BPCA attracted gamers of all ages with Resistance Wars 2: Double Resistance – a bespoke computer game designed exclusively with pest professionals in mind. Attendees tried their hand at a top-down dungeon crawler-style game, fending off various mutated pests.
Debuts and demonstrations
With more than 125 exhibitors in attendance, PestEx 2026 had a wealth of new products, innovations and developments on display for delegates to explore, from proofing and prevention methods to non-toxic solutions, scents and pheromones, lasers, blockers, IPM technology and more.
Man’s best friend was teaching delegates about the work of specially trained sniffer dogs at Merlin Environmental’s stand, which was set up like a classroom ready for bed bug scent to be laid and the cutest exhibitors to get to work.
Another stand-out demonstration was the diorama of an infestation, featuring live specimens, put together by Dr Richard Naylor of the Bed Bug Foundation.
With part of a bed, bedding and bedroom ephemera under a sealed glass dome, visitors could see the bed bugs in-situ, while learning about species identification and the work of the foundation too.
Dr Naylor said: “Our website offers a free specimen identification service and over the last year we’ve responded to 1,800 emails.
“A big part of every day is helping people to figure out whether what they’ve found is a bed bug, as roughly 80 per cent are actually something else.”
Among some of the wide range of products on display across the exhibition hall were non-toxic pest control in the form of scents and pheromones from Russell IPM, Xcluder’s stainless steel foam material and universal escutcheon plate for rodent proofing, along with Raxit Seals range of stainless steel wool barrier with diamond infused non-hardening core and copper vacuum insulation.
PestFix were showcasing smart traps and use of AI in their connected tech corner, along with bird control, netting, solar panel mesh and bio acoustic solutions.
The team also introduced Barry the Bee, a companion for Ruth the Roach, who made his debut at PestEx.
Rich Faulkner at ENVU gave insightful on-stand talks throughout the two days, while the broad range of product options were also front and centre for major players at PestEx including Barrettine, 1env, Syngenta, Bell Labs and PelGar.
"I enjoyed PestEx and appreciated the variety of product showcases. It was useful to see the range of products available for different pests".
International innovation
New ideas from overseas were a key part of the expo, with a wide range of products and services on show from exhibitors across the globe.
US-based JT Eaton & Co Inc were exhibiting at PestEx for the first time. Emma Knight, e-commerce and marketing, said: “Today we are showing our range of discreet pest control products.
“We’re really hoping to connect with as many people as possible including UK distributors.”
Danish company Nordisk Innovations were showcasing their professional use rat blocker which is made of acid-free stainless steel and consists of two independent wings - which allow it to expand to fit inside pipes of different diameters - and a rotating double gate locking system.
David Ravnkilde said: “It’s a relatively new business and we’ve partnered with a distributor so we’re really trying to make an extra push in the UK to extend the market and talk about what proofing and protection can do compared to treatment, balanced with the demands of using a non-toxic approach.”
Non-toxic was a hot topic at PestEx with Shenzen Visson Technology Co Ltd promoting their non-toxic mouse trap and Zepta.io demonstrating their digital monitoring system, which uses an app to monitor weighted bait stations that can indicate points of travel and species to allow 24/7 monitoring.
Australian start-up PestSense were also debuting their digital solution range including smart rodent station Predictor and OneCloud interface and Aussie Ezy Spray Pros – designed by Australian David Read, made its debut on the Lodi stand.
Allessandro Piovesan from Screen Birds, a family-owned business based in Italy, was introducing Clip Fast, a new solution a universal clip system especially for the UK market, which works with barriers and wire mesh to stop birds getting under solar panels.
"I like that we can meet the suppliers and see the physical products on the shelf rather than in a catalogue. Also, to actually meet people and speak face-to-face!"
Business focus
Among the support services for businesses was Inbervel, a pilot business growth system founded by Graham Clarke and John Dickson, which launched at PestEx.
Advanced Vehicle Leasing were showing their ‘whole solution’ options for transport, setting out options for cars and vans for lease, which arrived fully kitted as required to the door.
Organisations that work with or alongside BPCA, through campaigns, partnerships, provision of member benefits or regulation were also represented at PestEx, including TrustMark, Royal Society for Public Health, Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Non-Native Species Secretariat,
Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use, Rodenticide Resistance Action Group, Quest and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Welfare and wellbeing
Highlighting the importance of wellbeing and mental health support was Pest Minds, the growing initiative launched by Anna Mollins of Veritas Pest Consultancy.
Anna said: “This is the first time at PestEx for Pest Minds as a Community Interest Company - before it was just an idea.
“I’m here to spread awareness of Pest Minds and make connections, have those conversations with people about how important this type of support is to the industry.”
Physical health is at the centre of a study being conducted by Middlesex University London, which had a team at PestEx to highlight a planned feasibility study exploring workplace exposures and respiratory health.
Practical welfare was also a consideration at the GVS stand, where the Elipse Full Face Mask was among the PPE products on display.
And welfare concerns don’t stop at people. Karl Robertson, CEO of the Raptor Awards CEO and HF Pest & Bird Environmental said: “We’re about raptor welfare in the pest control industry.
“My speciality is working with birds of prey, and I aligned with the Raptor Awards on certification for those who keep, train and work with raptors.”
And after all that, those who needed a pick-me-up during a packed two days had the option to pop over to LODI UK’s Wild Wild Pest – a fantastic saloon bar with give-aways and products on display and a choice of bespoke beers, including Razzled Rat and Crawler.
Lauren Day, Events Manager at BPCA, said:
“PestEx is the pinnacle of our events calendar, and once again, we were blown away to see all the effort our exhibitors put into making their stands exciting and engaging. The energy in the hall was electric, and we couldn’t do it without their enthusiasm and support.
“PestEx 2026 has been the biggest show yet; we expanded the floor plan, filled the theatres with more speakers than ever and gave ourselves a huge challenge. And we absolutely smashed it!”
“We also couldn’t bring PestEx to life without the support of our seminar speakers and debate panels, who delivered an amazing programme of discussions and technical content - a huge thank you to them.”
Rosina Robson, BPCA’s Chief Executive, was thrilled with her first PestEx experience, commenting: “There was an incredible atmosphere in the exhibition hall over the two days. PestEx is a truly unique industry event; you really don’t get a better chance to meet this many pest professionals, suppliers, manufacturers, business owners, specifiers, government departments and member benefit providers under one roof in the UK.
“It was an absolute pleasure connecting with so many industry professionals at PestEx 2026. From in-depth discussions on legislation to quick catch-ups on the floor, thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with me.”
She continued: “Being new to the industry, I was encouraged by the number of international exhibitors and visitors. We welcomed guests from sister associations such as the African Pest Control Association (APCA) and Associazione Imprese Disinfestazione Professionali Italiane (AIDPI), international journalists from publications such as German magazine DpS, and exhibitors from countries like Greece, Turkey, India, China, the US, and many more. It’s a truly international event!
“Thanks again to everyone who made PestEx 2026 so memorable, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2028.”
"Wonderful atmosphere, with more knowledge there than ever before and full of people who are just as passionate about pest control as I am!"
PestEx in numbers
