Hungarian Company Babolna Bio Celebrates 60th Anniversary

It was celebration time for Babolna Bio when on Sept. 19, the Hungarian company drew together over 170 guests to commemorate the company’s 60th anniversary.

The invited guests, who came from as far away as U.S., Australia and the Middle East, included staff, customers and their global agents joined Babolna Bio on a river boat on the Danube in Budapest to mark the company's historic milestone. After a series of presentations, everyone enjoyed a buffet lunch followed by a cruise up the Danube in brilliant sunshine to see the sights of Budapest.

Welcoming everyone, president of Babolna Bio, Dr Daniel Bajomi, explained how in 1965 the Babolna state farm, the largest state farm in Hungary, was experiencing a severe rodent problem in their chicken broiler houses.

“In some barns there were more rats than chickens,” said Bajomi. “Since external assistance was not succesful, the farm decided to tackle the problem themselves. With initial assistance from Bayer the infestation was solved. It’s strange to think we are here today because of those rats!”

Word of this success spread, and a pest control servicing company was established. In 1971 Babolna Bio was called in to eliminate the rodents in Budapest where 33% of the factories and buildings were infested. By the end of the following year infestation levels were down to 0.5%. The experience gained along the way led the company to begin producing their own rodenticides based on bromadiolone and brodifacoum which are now sold under the Protect and Kilrat brand.

Babolna Bio runs a successful servicing company in addition to the research, manufacturing and international product sales division known today around the world. With a sales revenue of nearly $29.5 million, around 180 employees and exports to 79 countries with more than 100 partners, Babolna Bio certainly has something to celebrate.

“Export sales within Europe account for 60% of our business, America has grown to 30% with the Middle East and North Africa accounting for 7% and Australia 3%,” said CEO Balazs Bajomi.

“Our product split by type is pretty equal,” Mr Bajomi said. “Rodenticides account for 23% of worldwide sales, products containing methoprene 32%, non-methoprene insecticides 25%, insecticide free products 11%, other products 2% and the remaining 7% is toll manufacturing, mainly of rodenticides.”

Amongst the guests was Frank Jusich from Apollo Solutions based in Knoxville, Tenn. For the last five years, Apollo Solutions has provided strategic consulting and sales representation for Babolna with key clients in the pest control and animal health industries.

“It is a pleasure being Babolna’s agent in the USA, to represent the company’s high quality insect growth regulator active ingredients S-methoprene and S-hydroprene. Babolna has also developed and registered very innovative end-use products in the USA for stored grain protection, cattle fly control and pest control. Babolna is truly an innovative and technically advanced supplier of pest control products,” said Mr Jusich.

Also present was Dr. Klara Horvath, the mayor of Babolna, the town which gave the company its name and is still the site of all production facilities. She thanked the company for its contribution to the town saying: “The company is not only a leading employer but also a pilar to the local community. Today is a celebration of the past, but we must also look to the future.”

To commemorate their 60th anniversary, Nidal Al-Thaher, the Babolna Bio distributor in Jordan, presented Dr. Bajomi and the Babolna Bio team with a beautiful hand-woven Berber woollen wall hanging. Around the edge of which were the flags of all the countries where Babolna Bio trade.

Speaking on behalf of all the invited Babolna Bio guests, Frederic Hurstel of PestWest based in the UK said: “In the 20 years we have delt with Babolna Bio we have never had a formal contact – only a gentleman’s agreement. Our relationship is based on professionalism, honesty, trust and good communication. We look forward to working with you for many years in the future. Thank you the Babolna Bio family.”