Protect-A-Bed, BedBug Central End Agreement; Companies Offering Own Monitoring Devices

CHICAGO and LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — The bed bug interception device market is being reshaped following news that BedBug Central reacquired from Protect-A-Bed the BlackOut bed bug interception device. Protect-A-Bed announced it is remaining in this space and will continue manufacturing and selling bed bug interception devices under the LightsOut brand.

In 2013, BedBug Central sold BlackOut — including the pending utility patent and intellectual property — to Protect-A-Bed. Included in the agreement was a “right of repurchase” provision that BedBug Central “chose to exercise” on March 20, according to Phillip Cooper, CEO of BedBug Central.  “We’re excited to have BlackOut back with us at BedBug Central,” Cooper stated in a press release. “We wanted to bring BlackOut, the device we brought to market in 2012, back home to complement the SenSci monitoring system.”

Not included in the original BlackOut sale was the SenSci Volcano interception device that BedBug Central brought to market in 2014. BedBug Central’s senior leadership believe the BlackOut devices can better meet their market potential with BedBug Central because they will complement the SenSci.

“The BlackOut interceptor works effortlessly together with the SenSci Activ bed bug lure, to increase its catch rate,” said Robert DiJoseph, vice president of sales, BedBug Central. “Also, when BlackOut is paired with the SenSci Volcano, they create a highly-effective bed bug monitoring system.”

Also as part of this agreement, BedBug Central licenses the product back to Protect-A-Bed, which will “continue production of the trusted design, under the name LightsOut for the foreseeable future,” according to a Protect-A-Bed press release.

“The renaming will allow LightsOut Bed Bug Detector to join its sister products — LightsOut Lab-In-A-Bag and Lights Out Bed Bug Armor — in offering the PCO a complete collection of bed bug fighting tools,” said Brian Hirsch, director of industrial sales, Protect-A-Bed.

Hirsch added, “This product adds considerable value to the treatment and detection of bed bug infestations. Nothing will change in terms of distribution, quality manufacturing, shipping or availability. Our users and distributors can count on the same great product and service they have come to know and trust.”

As part of the reacquisition, BedBug Central is moving production back to the original manufacturer, The Roden Group, located in Hatfield, Pa. Protect-A-Bed will continue producing the LightsOut devices in Southeast Asia.

Retailers and distributors with questions about Protect-A-Bed’s LightsOut device can contact Hirsch at brian.hirsch@protectabed.com. Questions related to BedBug Central’s BlackOut device can be directed to Cooper at phil.cooper@cooperpest.com.