The company also won the Exporter of the Year Award in the $10 million to $25m category.
At the ceremony in Auckland last week, convenor of judges Barry Squires described Waikato Milking Systems as “a New Zealand success story, An outstanding example of the growth of agritech exporters”.
It was the first year the awards have been open to Waikato businesses and chief executive Dean Bell said he felt honoured to be included in a line-up of finalists which included some of NZ’s pre-eminent innovators.
“We have gained worldwide renown as one of the leading innovators and manufacturers of rotary milking systems and dairy technology.
“This reputation was cemented when we introduced the revolutionary Centrus Composite rotary platform a few years ago. Designed primarily for intensive 24/7 dairying environments, the platforms are constructed from a composite material which contains Kevlar – similar to the material used in manufacture of aircraft, racing yachts and bullet-proof vests.
Bell said he was proud to “represent that team because, to a person, we share a commitment to be the best in a fiercely competitive global dairy technology market, producing innovative, superbly designed and built products which transform the milking environment and add new levels of ease and efficiency to the lives of farmers around the world”.
