In 1983, Global Instruments Ltd. started doing preliminary design of a line of electronic pest control devices. The practical testing involved actual on-farm testing of prototype units for the control of rats. These tests involved a total of 261 farms and were both building mounted and ground applications. These tests provided the basis for numerous changes to the circuit board design and were in repetition of three tests per change plus one control.

In 1985, Global Instruments Ltd. became incorporated as an Iowa corporation operating out of Ames, Iowa. During that same year, Global Instruments Ltd. assembled 1000 prototype units in a smaller version to be used in the home. These units were tested in 792 homes of various sizes, 187 apartment houses, and several restaurants, offices, churches and miscellaneous buildings.

In September of 1986, Global submitted the smaller unit to a testing laboratory in Des Moines, Iowa, to determine the difference in behavior in mice and cockroaches attributed to the output of the electronic devices. After substantial laboratory tests, further tests were conducted in homes to estimate the strength of one unit in square feet. The total tests on three strains of cockroaches and mice were declared to be "stressful to the laboratory specimens" and that "this device would be effective in the control of mice and cockroaches". Global then applied to Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. for testing to obtain the UL Listing required on electronic devices. The Listing was granted in May of 1987. This UL Listing also required some efficacy reports before final approval.

On January 31, 1989, United States Patent #4,802,057 was issued from the United Stated Patent and Trademark Office for a "Rodent Control Device". On June 19, 1989, Trademark application was made to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This Trademark was approved and registered on November 13, 1990, under the name "Pest-A-Cator®". On October 5, 1989, German Patent 89 09 186.8 was issued.

On December 30, 1989, the smaller unit was submitted to test the output of the three different versions of the product. It was this test that indicated the unit was "altering the normal magnetic field that is present around an electric wire".
On July of 1990, the first 220-Volt prototypes were constructed and submitted to various testing protocols and found to be equally as effective as the 110-Volt units.

On May 18,1992, a series of tests were performed on the unit. Conclusion: "Although we do not claim to be experts in the rodent response to electronic pulsing in various forms and intensities, we suspect that regularly changing the imposed high frequency waveform on the 60 Hertz waveform is offensive to them. Propagation of this high frequency energy is not clearly understood, but it apparently emanated from the point of origin, the unit, out over low voltage electrical circuitry. Since rodents usually occupy the dead space between walls where the wiring is located, their sensory apparatus responds to this electronic signal. Humans are not equipped with the same sensory capability nor is the normal pet".

On October 20, 1993, we began a series of field-testing. This testing continued through August 28, 1994, and was performed at four separate locations. Conclusion: "When I installed my first unit on October 20, 1993, I was highly "skeptical" of its efficacy; however, after nine months of research and testing, I have concluded that the unit does rid a house of pests....even my wife did not want me to unplug the unit for further testing, as she was convinced of its merits. In summary, the unit is 97% effective for mice and rats.

Other comments from the homemakers where the tests were conducted:

• "After installation of the unit for four weeks, the problems with mice and rats were solved."
• "I certainly feel that the unit has helped with our problems. Furthermore, I do not wish to remove this unit for tests without it!"

On November 27, 1996, the United States Department of the Navy, Office of Research and Technology Applications, began a series of tests. Comments: "The results indicate that the units are effective and have helped solve a major problem."

By January 23, 1997, the 220-Volt unit was also UL Listed.

By January, 1998, the UL mark was changed to the C-UL-US mark which shows the unit to be listed for both the United States and Canada. Also, a unit was designed for Europe, which has been CE Listed and shows the CE mark.

In 2001, Taiwan Patent No. NI-134966 was issued to Global for Rodent Control Device, and later that same month, USA Trademark No. 2,422,180 was issued for the PestVacator® name.

In June of 2001, Global Instruments introduced a line of ultrasonic units called PestVacator®. While we strongly believe that the Pest-A-Cator offers a more efficient method of pest control, we felt it was necessary to provide a lower cost alternative in order to give the consumer a choice in electronic pest control.

On June 4, 2002, USA Patent No. 6,400,995 was issued to Global for IMPROVED RODENT CONTROL DEVICE.

Currently, we have a Japan Patent in process (application No. 2000-124603), as well as numerous applications for trademarks, including Hong Kong, China, Japan, and one issued in Thailand.

In conclusion, Pest-A-Cator has been tested extensively in most every possible condition and situation, both practical and laboratory controlled, and found to be an excellent way to reduce the hazardous chemicals and poisons and still control rodents and other pests. It is AN ENVIRONMENTAL ALTERNATIVE FOR SAFER PEST CONTROL.

*As with any pest management technique, no one method is completely effective, and a program of integrated management involving a variety of techniques and practices is most likely to provide the desired results.