8 EU BUSINESS NEWS / Irish Enterprise Awards 2022 Best Humane Rodent Control Product 2022: RATFLAP® Recognised as the Best Humane Rodent Control Product of 2022, Andec Supplies Ltd's product, RATFLAP, was introduced as an innovative, straightforward, and affordable development to aid in the global issue of rats inhabiting sewers. The revolutionary invention was created to prevent rats frommoving from central sewer systems towards pipes connected to properties. Thus, RATFLAPwas launched to stop rats from escaping damaged pipes underground and gaining access to estates. Founded by the husband-and-wife team Ann and Declan Melia ten years ago, Andec Supplies Ltd has secured a lasting reputation in the industry through the creation of RATFLAP. With the duo's prior experience within the pest control industry, Declan was curious why companies had not figured out a way to prevent sewer rats from entering buildings through damaged pipes in his many years working with rat issues. For Declan, this was regarded as a significant issue for various homes worldwide. Over 90% of rat issues begin from a sewer pipe that has either been decayed underground or was not made or appropriately installed to start with. Therefore, this allowed easy access for these sewer rats to enter homes. Declan expands on this, explaining his process in creating the industry's best and most humane rodent control product, stating, "I set about sketching, drawing and finally buying a small sheet of flat steel and cutting the shape that I had designed out of the steel and bending and shaping it into the first RATFLAP. Obtaining a patent took a little time, a few years in fact, and of course, we have a trademark for the term RATFLAP now." The creation of the humane rodent control product was designed by Declan, a pest controller with several years of experience in the industry and an innate understanding of the biology and behaviour of brown rats. Thus, with his passion, dedication and inventive personality, and hard-working Jan22648 admiration, Declan developed a specialised product that stops rats in their tracks without affecting the sewer's flow. The product is made from the highest quality raw materials and, concerning the highest standards in the industry, designed from 304-grade stainless steel that precision lasers have cut. Therefore, RATFLAP will be able to last for a significantly long time and has been created to be a straightforward solution to simply 'fit and forget.' Essentially, RATFLAP can be fitted by anyone. Still, it is beneficial and recommended to be looked at by someone with a basic knowledge of sewer flow and layout for optimum results. The RATFLAP was developed to stop rats from gaining access to drains without implementing poison or traps and as a humane and environmentally friendly option. The Ratflap and everything contained inside the box is 100% recyclable. This simple and highly effective solution is renowned for its creativity and innovation worldwide. Declan adds to this by commenting on the recognition the product has got over the years, stating, "They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and there have been a few attempts at copying my RATFLAP, both here in Ireland and the UK. However, we have quickly dealt with these interlopers using the power of our patent and trademark. 11 years later, we are still selling 1000s of RATFLAP's of all popular pipe sizes in various countries throughout the world with distributors in Ireland, the UK, Lithuania, Singapore and Spain." Due to its impressive qualities as a revolutionary product within the pest control industry, the RATFLAP design has remained the same ever since its initial creation. For the company, the construction quality of RATFLAP is paramount to the product and the reputation of the business. Declan expands on this, stating, "We have been congratulated on numerous occasions on the robustness of all our RATFLAP products. This is hugely important for this product as it is placed into a toxic environment; it is never checked or maintained, so it must be a fit and forget product." Regarding the installation and the team of designers at the company, RATFLAP is mostly
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