Greenzone: The One-stop Termite Shop

In this feature, we turn the spotlight onto some of the key companies within our industry. In this article, we look at termite product supplier Greenzone.

 

Historically, protecting joints in concrete from termites was a two-step process – expansion foam was used to fill the gap, but an additional product would be required to provide the termite protection.

But in 2010 Paul Commerford had an idea to integrate a termite barrier within an expansion joint foam to create a single product. The idea was that the product would simplify the installation of termite barriers around penetrations in concrete slabs and the installation of termite barriers where concrete control (expansion) joints are located.

“Many years ago, while I was onsite drilling and injecting concrete, I was thinking about how concrete and exposed aggregate is everywhere we look,” said Mr Commerford, founder of Green Zone Pty. “In every case, these buildings need expansion joint foam – you can’t pour concrete around brickwork without expansion joint foam. So I thought to myself, ‘Surely one of the big players would’ve trialled a foam that includes an insecticide? ’”

Mr Commerford began developing the product and patents were eventually granted for Australia, the US, Europe, China and Singapore. Following the successful patent application, Green Zone Pty Ltd was established in September 2010. The aim was to develop the product idea further, with both the Australian and international building and construction markets in mind.

 

Developing the original Greenzone Expansion Foam

The ensuing seven years saw the Greenzone team undertaking field trials in Darwin and Griffith and later efficacy testing to define and refine the termite barrier product. In fact, the foam product is still in the ground in Darwin, part of the product field trials that started back in 2011. This site is still being visited regularly to carry out assessments, even now, 13 years on.

Greenzone Termite & Insect Repellent Barrier was developed to integrate a compressible foam substrate with bifenthrin to allow builders and pre-construction termite managers to install a termite repellent compressible foam layer during the construction of a new building. The novel idea of integrating a termite repellent into expansion joint foam allows the product to be applied in three ways: as a penetration (pipe) wrap, on control joints, and on concrete infill slabs.

However, the process of developing and testing a new, innovative product, without the financial backing and support of a large multinational company, was not without its challenges. But with Brett Bowey and Sam Robertson joining the team, Greenzone was able to fully commercialise the expansion foam product.

After many years of trials and testing, the finished product finally hit the Australian market in 2017 and was well received by Australian distributors.

“It’s because the demand is there for our product; even today, there’s no one else creating a foam product like ours. There are competitor products out there but they’re not the same. There are still several years left to run on our patents, which we strongly defend,” said Mr Commerford.

“Builders tell us that they love our product and won’t change – having a single product makes sense for domestic and commercial work.”

 

 

Expanding the Greenzone range

Since the release of Greenzone Termite & Insect Repellent Barrier in 2017, Greenzone has continued to develop new innovative products, such as its Sock Barrier (2019), Backer Rod (2022) and Termite Paint (2023). In 2023, Greenzone expanded its range of termite products beyond the pre-construction market, with the introduction of Greenzone Bifenthrin and Greenzone Fipronil. The addition of these concentrates based on the leading termiticides for post-construction termite applications was part of the aim of making the company a one-stop shop for termite professionals. It was also based on feedback from pest managers that indicated they would be happier to buy locally made chemical products than big brand foreign imports.

 

 

Brett Bowey, general manager of Greenzone, reports that the company’s top selling products tend to be those that save time on the job.

“Our foam and paint are our bestsellers. Our paint has proven popular because it spreads on easily after the primer. It expands up to 300% with the concrete so no fibreglass is needed. Pest managers can then opt to use the Backer Rod and paint over it, whether it’s an infill slab or a join,” he said.

“Our sock product, which is used over penetrations, along with the Backer Rod, are two products that really save pest managers time on site, making these particularly popular.”

The growth of the business has seen the Greenzone team expanding, with the recruitment of admin and warehousing staff as well as sales reps for QLD and NSW. As has always been the case, significant investment continues to be made into growing the Greenzone product range.

 

Acquisition of Altis

At the start of 2024, Greenzone announced the acquisition of Altis Pty Ltd, the company that produces the Altis Reticulation System.

When it was developed in 1992, it was the first reticulation system to be included on a chemical label in Australia. While other reticulation systems at the time depended on high pressure to achieve the desired effect, the Altis version was a low-pressure system using emitter technology, providing an accurate and measurable result. One of the biggest benefits of the system is its remarkably accurate delivery of the correct amount of the chemical to all areas being treated.

For Greenzone, the acquisition of Altis strengthens its capabilities in the termite management market.

“Altis is a great product that’s stood the test of time. We’re looking forward to connecting with the brand’s loyal existing client base and bringing the product to a new audience. We’ll be showcasing the system at Pesticon in August, where we’ll be launching the product as Greenzone Altis,” commented Mr Bowey.

 

Taking care of customers

Looking after customers is a priority for Greenzone, and being a small business is regarded as a significant benefit.

“The fact that we’re not a big global company is actually our strong point – when pest managers need help, we’re there for them and we’re right here in Australia,” said Mr Commerford.

“We’ve developed great relationships with the pest managers who use our products, especially those who’ve used our products from the start. They appreciate that we go out of our way to help them. Customer service is important for us; we’ve built our reputation on it.”

 

Looking ahead

With about 30% of sales each month coming from new customers, the Greenzone team believe the preconstruction sector is growing after a significant period of instability, with many sole operators looking to get a foothold in the pre-con market.

With the market looking more stable, Greenzone will continue to invest in product development.

“Our R&D efforts are ongoing and we currently have three new products in the pipeline,” said Mr Commerford. “Field trials are currently underway for two of them.

The third is a patented product due for release at the end of 2025, which is something we’re excited about.

“In the meantime we are consolidating the recently expanded product range.”