The EzyCups™ Story

In 2006 Tim Shaffett was casual milking in South Taranaki. He had recently closed his Auckland businesses and the routine of milking was a perfect opportunity to consider his future options.

An American immigrant, Tim had arrived in New Zealand in 1992 and had pioneered indoor rock climbing in this country, notably Auckland’s Rocknasium, and had owned several other businesses, including a backpackers’ accommodation.

After about 4 weeks of the repetitive action of applying cups night and morning, week in/week out, Tim concluded that the milking process could be improved! Every time he reached down to grab a single cup, he wondered why he couldn’t be bringing more up . . . In time, this led him to developing what is now EzyCups™.

In all, there have been a dozen prototypes. What seemed like a very simple concept of linking two cups has proved to be a long development process to perfect performance in all kinds of sheds and conditions.

Since Richard Tiddy came on board, the project has accelerated to a whole new level. Richard and Tim have been very active researching and developing the product in the Te Awamutu area and there has been strong interest and support from local farmers, advisors, and from DairyNZ.

Dr Richard Tiddy BVSc MSc MNZIPIM

Richard is well known to the New Zealand dairy industry, having worked as a dairy vet practitioner for 15 years followed by 12 years in consultancy. He is a past president of the NZ Dairy Cattle Veterinarians society and is currently on the Executive. His consulting practice, Vet Resource Ltd, is based in Te Awamutu.

Richard was instrumental bringing the InCalf program to New Zealand, and training Rural Professionals to improve herd fertility. He is active in the mastitis research, having completed a large national trial and he currently contributes to SmartSAMM development.

Part of Richard’s research interest is developing and testing useful new ideas. When he met Tim Shaffett last year he could see the potential in EzyCups™. He became a co-developer and investor in the project, helping to manage ongoing research of the product. He is responsible for reporting trial results to DairyNZ and other interested parties.

After a high level of interest at the Fieldays Innovation stand, Tim Shaffett and Richard Tiddy are delighted to be launching the commercial version of EzyCups™ to the New Zealand market in October 2012.