Award Winning Innovation - Leading Farmers into the future

Waikato Milking Systems, a global leader in dairy innovation, has once again pushed the boundaries with its latest breakthrough with the award winning ErgoPOD™ Semi-Robotic Milking System. First unveiled to the industry in mid-2023 as a concept, ErgoPOD™ has quickly captured attention for its ability to redefine the traditional milking processes.

Now, Waikato Milking Systems has officially announced that the unit is commercially available in New Zealand and Australia, setting a new standard for efficiency, ergonomics, and productivity in rotary milking.

Recognised with the National Fieldays Innovation Award in 2023 and the prestigious 2024 Innovation Award from the Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, the ErgoPOD™ is set to redefine the dairy farming industry. This groundbreaking technology brings a new level of efficiency, ergonomics, and productivity to rotary milking systems.

Development Path

Developing the ErgoPOD™ was not a simple task. Waikato Milking Systems embarked on a rigorous design and testing process, working closely with farmers and specialists to identify key pain points within traditional milking sheds.

The company applied the ‘Theory of Constraints’ methodology to identify inefficiencies and streamline workflows, resulting in a more intuitive and productive system. Through this innovation and customer centric driven approach, Waikato Milking Systems has removed traditional bottlenecks that slow down the milking process, while providing advanced animal performance insights.

Innovative Design Elements

Designed to eliminate inefficiencies associated with traditional cupping and manual operations, the system allows operators to focus on individual cows and their specific needs rather than being consumed by repetitive tasks. By incorporating state-of-the-art technology into a modular unit mounted within each bail of the rotary platform, the ErgoPOD™ streamlines the milking process, making it faster, smarter, and more sustainable.

With ErgoPOD’s™ advanced quarter-milking technology, this enables early detection of health concerns, ensuring faster, targeted individual animal intervention. With no cross-contamination between quarters and the ability to sample milk individually for suspected infections, it sets a new standard in udder health management.

Providing real-time production data, along with live updates on cow health and system performance, this allows farmers to make accurate and informative decisions with ease.

Its compact design protects against external environmental contamination, ensuring superior milk quality, while its unique milking cartridges simplify maintenance.

For Farmers Who Demand More

Here at Waikato Milking Systems, we’re shaping the future of dairy farming with a focus on ergonomics, sustainability and long-term industry success.

With its universal design principles, ErgoPOD™ caters to a diverse array of farming operations. For dairy farmers looking to take their operations to the next level, ErgoPOD™ offers an opportunity to rethink the milking process and embrace a smarter, more efficient, productive and ergonomic operation.

We strongly believe in a future where efficiency and care coexist harmoniously, with a shift toward a more sustainable and profitable dairy farming operation and are proud to stand behind or innovative solutions we offer.

Are you on this journey with us.

Fraser Haywood
Commercial Manager - ErgoPOD™
Waikato Milking Systems
fraser.haywood@waikatomilking.com