Fumigation friendly success

 Now business is booming, according to chief executive Ken Brash.
A major part of Nordiko’s business was the recapture of methyl bromide gas* and attitudes toward this activity slowly changed when new laws were enforced in a number of countries, Mr Brash said.
“Initially when I first put this product out to the market, it was quite uncomfortable because at that stage, no one gave a damn about the environment,” Mr Brash said.
“When laws came in place about exposure of methyl bromide to employees and the potential for heavy personal fines it became interesting for them to look at (Nordiko’s units) as a way to stay out of trouble.
“From then on, more and more companies became interested,” he said, adding that Nordiko’s clients now include some well-known, large overseas corporations.
The niche operator’s customer base has grown three fold in the past two years to 12 clients, including the government of Belgium.
In 2007, Belgium became the first country in the world to recapture methyl bromide, making it relatively easy for Nordiko to get its units accepted there, he said.
“We are one of three approved operators with 80% of that business.
“But we had to go through rigorous compliances.”
Germany’s port of Hamburg made methyl bromide recapture mandatory last September.
Nordiko prefers to lease its products rather than sell them for fear its reputation may be tarnished if its fumigation units fell into the wrong hands.
“We want to make sure we maintain our equipment. If you sell it you lose control.”
Winning awards has been the major story for Nordiko in recent years, with recognition from the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2008 being the standout for Mr Brash.
“We were one of few companies named for this award and to have won it is a great honour,” he said.
Other highlights include the initial sale of its units to the Australian Customs Service and the Canadian border authorities.
“It is a big buzz,” he said.
With business going the way it has, Mr Brash has his eyes on increasing the company’s customer base to 100 within five years.
Now the US Department of Agriculture has registered an interest in buying Nordiko’s units, Mr Brash said.
“There are two companies in the US that do recapture but the government has come to us because they know us,” he said.
Nordiko is currently working on a new destruction process for sulfuryl fluoride**, a system that Mr Brash believes will be well received in the US market.
“The unit is currently being laboratory tested and while it has shown promise, it will be another six months before we know whether it is viable for commercial use, Mr Brash said.
“The US is a big user of sulfuryl fluoride. California takes 60% of the world’s production (of the gas).”

* Methyl bromide:
• a fumigant to control pests
• a colourless gas
• recognised as an ozone depleting chemical

** Sulfuryl fluoride:
• inorganic gas
• a fumigant used to control drywood termites