What MilktechNZ does

MilktechNZ is a privately held New Zealand dairy-technology manufacturer founded in 2018 by Gustavo Garza and headquartered in Hamilton. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes a modular suite of milking-shed automation hardware and software for herringbone and rotary dairy parlours. Its flagship product, the CR-1 Electronic Cup Remover, uses WiFi/LoRa wireless protocols and a smartphone-based control interface to deliver features such as lift-to-start, rapid venting, adjustable retraction, kick-off alerts, and over-the-air software upgrades; the unit retrofits onto any milking machine brand. The portfolio has expanded through internal development and acquisitions to include the YD-1 Milk Yield Indicator, TS-1 Teat Sprayer, P-1 Clever Pulsator, MC-1/MC-2/MC-3 milking claws, CS-1/CS-2 cup shells, ML-1 liners, CW-1 cluster washer, silicone tubing consumables, and the MilkHub automation platform (Auto Drafter, SG-1 Sort Gate, In-Bail Identification, Feed Control, Online Herd Management, and mobile app), acquired in 2024 and integrating with LIC MINDA herd-management software.

MilktechNZ sells primarily through a 22-dealer channel network spanning New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland, Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Portugal, Colombia, and Peru, supplemented by direct regional sales managers. Hardware carries one-time purchase pricing for capital equipment with recurring revenue from consumables (liners, tubing) and MilkHub software subscriptions; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The customer base is exclusively dairy farmers, ranging from 200-cow family operations to 1,000+-cow commercial farms and corporate-sharemilking arrangements, with documented quantifiable outcomes including 80% average annual revenue growth between 2019 and 2022 and a 120% turnover increase in the 12 months to December 2022.

The company operates three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Press and Lazer (metal fabrication, acquired June 2022), OH! Marketing (in-house agency, established 2022), and MilkHub (dairy automation, acquired 2024). It employs 37 staff, holds registered trademarks on MilktechNZ®, CR-1, and MilkHub, and has been recognized with multiple regional and national innovation awards. The firm is bootstrapped and remains under sole founder ownership.

Name

MilktechNZ

Legal name

MilktechNZ

Website

https://milktechnz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MilktechNZ designs and manufactures modular milking-shed automation hardware and software for dairy farmers, selling a flagship CR-1 electronic cup remover and the MilkHub herd-management platform through a 22-dealer global channel network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Milking Equipment

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Dairy Housing, Milking Systems & On-Farm Infrastructure Operations (AFAEACAG)

Keywords

• Dairy milking equipment
• Electronic cup removers
• Milking automation systems
• Dairy shed automation
• Herd management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Milking Equipment: Sale of physical milking equipment including CR-1 electronic cup removers, milking claws (MC-1, MC-2, MC-3), cup shells (CS-1, CS-2), milking liners, pulsators, cluster washers, teat sprayers, yield indicators, and automation components. One-time purchase model with accessories and consumables.
2. MilkHub Software and Subscriptions: MilkHub online herd management platform providing 24/7 access to reporting, task management, and dairy automation control. Mobile app for Auto Drafter operation.
3. Silicone Tubing and Consumables: Replacement silicone tubing and milking liners as recurring consumables. FDA approved food grade silicone products compliant with MPI milking equipment standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MilktechNZ designs and manufactures labour-saving electronic milking equipment for herringbone and rotary dairy sheds, including the CR-1 wireless electronic cup remover, milking claws, pulsators, cup shells, liners, cluster washers, silicone tubing, and the MilkHub in-shed automation suite (auto-drafters, in-bail identification, feed control, and online herd management software). The company sells its own products via a global dealer network and regional sales managers, targeting dairy farmers in New Zealand and internationally.

Product overview

MilktechNZ offers a modular milking technology platform for dairy sheds, comprising core milking equipment (electronic cup removers, milking claws, pulsators, liners, cup shells, cluster washers, tubing) and the acquired MilkHub automation suite. The flagship CR-1 Electronic Cup Remover serves as the central WiFi-connected hub, complemented by add-on modules like the YD-1 Yield Indicator, TS-1 Teat Sprayer, and the MilkHub herd management platform. MilkHub provides online herd management, auto-drafting, in-bail identification, feed control, and mobile app functionality. All products are designed and manufactured in New Zealand for herringbone and rotary dairy systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MilkHub: In-shed automation and online herd management solution including auto drafters, in-bail identification, feed control, and MilkHub software and mobile app.
• CR-1
• YD-1
• TS-1
• P-1 Clever Pulsator
• MC-1, MC-2, MC-3
• CS-1, CS-2
• CW-1
• ML-1

Products and services

• CR-1 Electronic Cup Removers WiFi-enabled electronic cup removers (ECR) for herringbone and rotary dairy sheds featuring LoRa communication protocols, lift-to-start functionality, rapid venting, adjustable retraction speed, and smartphone programmability for real-time parameter adjustment. Designed for dairy farmers seeking to automate milking and reduce labour.
• YD-1 Milk Yield Indicator Real-time milk yield display showing each cow's production volume, kick-off alerts, and low milk alerts with full colour high-definition display for instant herd management decisions. Retrofittable to existing CR-1 systems.
• TS-1 In-Bail Teat Sprayer Automatic in-bail post-teat spraying system designed for rotary platforms that sprays teats from underneath immediately after milking, providing better coverage than traditional rear spraying systems. Made from chemically resistant materials with the lowest profile design for different udder heights.
• CW-1 Cluster Washer Premium cluster washer unit engineered for tough farm conditions with non-return valve preventing vacuum loss, adjustable flow control, and configurations for highline swing over, low line swing over, and rotary systems.
• MC-1 375ml High Capacity Milking Claw High capacity milking claw designed for high-producing cows with 375ml capacity, vacuum stability, and 2+2 or 4+0 pulsation options. Weighs 540g with cluster weights of 1700g (plastic shells) or 2100g (stainless shells).
• MC-2 220ml Lightweight Milking Claw Lightweight 220ml high impact polymer milking claw reducing cluster weight by up to 60% with lightweight cup shells. Features 360-degree milk flow visibility and reversible top for operator cleaning. Available in polymer (260g claw) and stainless steel (400g claw) variants.
• MC-3 300ml Lightweight Milking Claw Lightweight 300ml high impact polymer milking claw with ergonomic design reducing cluster weight by up to 60%. Features 360-degree milk flow view and reversible top for cleaning. Available in polymer (290g claw) and stainless steel (430g claw) variants.
• CS-1 Stainless Steel Cup Shell Robust stainless steel cup shell made from 304 stainless steel weighing 270g, 155mm length with 18mm top hole diameter, designed to fit wide range of milk liners for lifetime use in herringbone and rotary sheds.
• CS-2 Lightweight Plastic Cup Shell Lightweight ultra-robust plastic cup shell weighing 140g, 155mm length with 17.5mm top hole diameter, made from ultra-durable 100% recyclable PET plastic to reduce operator fatigue.
• ML-1 Milking Liner Square milking liner designed for stable teat end vacuum reducing cup slip and squawking. Recommended replacement after 2,500 milkings for optimal milking performance, animal health, and cow comfort.
• P-1 Clever Pulsator Electronic pulsator with configurable 2+2 pulsation, 4+0 pulsation or 2+2x2 configurations. Automatically adjusts pulsation rate and ratio based on real-time milk flow for precision milking across all machine types.
• Silicone Tubing FDA-approved food grade silicone tubing designed as direct replacement for existing rubber or silicone milk and air tubing. Available in multiple sizes including 7mm twin, 8mm, 9.5mm air tubes and 14mm, 16mm milk tubes, compliant with MPI milking equipment standards.
• MilkHub Online Herd Management Cloud-based online herd management platform providing 24/7 access to real-time cow data, reporting, task management, and analysis tools. Integrates with all in-shed automation modules and offers customized reporting, treatment recording, and data import/export including LIC MINDA synchronization.
• MilkHub Auto Drafter Pneumatically powered galvanised steel draft gate with 3-way action (left, right, centre) for automated cow drafting. Features EID panel reader, real-time cloud connection, and integration with MilkHub Online Herd Management.
• MilkHub SG-1 Sort Gate (Next Generation) Next-generation pneumatically powered galvanised steel sorting gate with integrated separator for maximum drafting accuracy. Features third party wearables integration, quick drafts from mobile app, weather protection, and quiet nylon-bushed operation.
• MilkHub In-Bail Identification EID-based cow identification system for rotary platforms with large display screen showing cow details, treatments, alerts, and withholds. Enables data entry, treatment management, and real-time cow tracking through MilkHub.
• MilkHub Feed Control On-platform feed controller managing supplementary feed delivery to individual cows based on EID tags. Supports preferential feeding for individual cows or groups, works with third party hardware for liquid, grain or pellets, and enables 0.3-second feed delivery precision.
• MilkHub Mobile App Mobile application for Auto Drafter operators enabling convenient gate control, quick drafts from phone, pending and historic draft viewing, and heat/health alert management. Available on iOS App Store and Google Play Store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Halved milking time for UK farmer with new parlour build
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Dairy Farm Services LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 2024UK-based dealer providing MilktechNZ equipment sales, installation, and technical support for English farmers. Serves as primary stockist and local contact for UK operations.
• Bovio LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Ireland sales and distribution partner led by Colin Barry with over 20 years experience in milking machine industry. Specializes in installation, maintenance, backup service, and technical support.
• MilkHubflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Acquisition of MilkHub brings in-shed automation including Auto-Drafter, In-line Milk Sensors, In-bail Identification, and MilkHub software. Enables comprehensive herd management solution.
• DairyTech SouthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouthland/South Otago dairy shed specialist and first dealer to install CR-1 units in New Zealand. Operates from Gore and Winton hubs with dedicated installation teams.
• LIC MINDAcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnership with LIC MINDA herd management software. MilkHub now integrates with MINDA allowing customers to maximize system potential and data utilization.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fullwood Packo: UK and Ireland-based manufacturer of milking parlors, electronic cup removers, milk cooling and herd management systems. Closely comparable peer operating in MilktechNZ's primary export markets with a similar focus on conventional parlors plus automation.
• DairyMaster: Irish manufacturer of milking equipment including rotary parlors, milk meters, and automation. Highly relevant peer given shared geographic markets (Ireland, UK) and overlapping product categories in milking components and herd management.
• Waikato Milking Systems: New Zealand-based manufacturer of rotary and herringbone milking systems with global reach. Most directly comparable peer — same geography, same customer segment (dairy farmers), same core product family of milking equipment.
• Interpuls: Italian specialist in milking components — pulsators, claws, electronic cup removers, milk meters — sold globally via OEM and dealer channels. Closely comparable component-level competitor to MilktechNZ's P-1, MC-series and CR-1 product lines.

Emerging players

• SAC (S.A. Christensen): Danish manufacturer of milking robots and automated milking systems with a focus on rotary robotics. Comparable at the leading edge of dairy automation, partially overlapping with MilkHub's automation direction.
• Happel GmbH: German manufacturer of milking automation equipment including electronic cup removers and pulsators. Niche European peer comparable on specific milking components that overlap with MilktechNZ's CR-1 and P-1 lines.

Broad incumbents

• GEA Farm Technologies: German engineering conglomerate with a major dairy milking equipment business (clusters, parlors, automation, robots). Competes with MilktechNZ in conventional milking components and increasingly in automation, but as part of a much larger industrial portfolio.
• Lely: Dutch leader in dairy automation, best known for the Astronaut robotic milking system and the Lely Vector feeding system. Competes at the high-end automation layer that MilktechNZ is approaching through its MilkHub platform.
• BouMatic: US-headquartered dairy milking equipment manufacturer offering parlors, milking components, and automation. Comparable as a global competitor in conventional and automated milking equipment, with broader geographic and product reach.
• DeLaval: Swedish multinational and global market leader in dairy milking equipment, automation, and herd management. Overlaps with MilktechNZ on cup removers, milking systems, and farm automation, but operates at vastly larger scale across a much broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@milktechnz7284
• Facebookfacebook.com/Milktechnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/milktechnz-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/milktechnz

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MilktechNZ