A look at the 2015 Sherwood Chemicals conference, where pest managers were welcomed to a behind the scenes look at the product formulation facility.
2015 was the third year that Sherwood Chemicals officially ran the ‘Sherwood Chemicals Pest Conference’ in Thailand. Pest control operators from around Australia converged in the bustling city of Bangkok for a two-day meeting that covered a broad range of topics and highlighted the importance of quality control in the formulation and manufacturing of chemicals.
This study tour concept was initiated in 2009 as a result of listening to feedback from pest controllers. We have learnt over the years that Australian pest businesses are run by entrepreneurs, who are not only passionate about business but also in educating themselves to improve their service and profit. The study tour meets this need by learning how to get the best performance from pest products and sharing knowledge with industry peers.
John Ralph, director of Sherwood Chemicals Australia commented. “It’s been so rewarding to see the success of this factory tour grow each year – this year we had to run two tours over two consecutive weeks! We have made many new friends and exchanged so many great ideas.
“A number of our products have been improved as a direct result of the feedback from pest controllers. The development of Ultraforce Termite Foam was a result of the successful collaboration between our chemists and Australian pest controllers who were looking for a fipronil-based aerosol that was convenient to use for termite spot treatments.”
Elton Arderne (Sherwood Chemicals Australian business manager) was making his first trip to visit the Sherwood manufacturing facility. “The overwhelming response from pest controllers who attended was that they were impressed with the facility and gained a greater appreciation as to what formulation chemistry is all about. Not only did they experience the manufacturing process but they got to bounce ideas off one another. It was exciting to be part of it and to watch the camaraderie build over the two days.”
Mark Hayman from Accurate Pest Management summed up the feeling of many pest managers. “The management team refers to Sherwood Chemicals as a ‘formulation and manufacturing specialist’. This has a nice ring to it, but until you see the facility and meet the people – the chemists and scientists – you don’t really get a true understanding of what they mean.
“After attending one of these conferences you will understand and have a greater respect for the Sherwood products you use in Australia.”
The conference will run again in 2016. To start the conference you will be greeted at the airport and transported to your hotel where you will meet the rest of the group over welcome drinks. The following day you will be taken to the factory for a behind the scenes tour. There you will meet the Sherwood team who will explain and show you how quality chemicals are produced. We will finish the day with some dinner and entertainment.
One of the highlights of the trip will be the time you spend with you peers travelling and discussing ideas on route to places like ‘Hell Fire Pass’ near the Myanmar border, where you can pay your respects to the roughly 20,000 diggers who lost their lives in World War II.
Most pest managers meet up with family after the conference and head to the tourist spots of Thailand for a break before the busy Australian summer season arrives.
‘Trip to Thailand’ winner
Congratulations to Kate White from Selecta Pest on the Gold Coast. Ms White won the Sherwood major prize of a trip to Thailand, which was drawn at the Rapid Solutions Risk Management Conference on the Gold Coast. The team at Sherwood look forward to seeing you next year in Bangkok, Thailand.
