OCTOBER 2026  |  SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE  I  SEED WORLD EUROPE   I   35
Built on Trust, Ready to Grow
PARTNER CONTENT
R
obin Kleinwort never expected his 
path to the seed industry to begin 
with a hunting group.
More than a decade ago, the 
mechanical engineer met SATEC founder 
Jens Hacklaender through a shared hunt­
ing horn group in Germany. Over the 
years, conversations about the business 
evolved into something much bigger. 
When Hacklaender began thinking about 
the company's future, he asked Kleinwort 
if he would consider taking over the 
machine-building part of the company, 
SATEC Equipment.
The opportunity aligned with a 
lifelong ambition to start his own busi­
ness. Before making the leap, Kleinwort 
immersed himself in an industry he had 
never worked in before and discovered a 
mission that resonated with him.
"In the seed industry, I find it very 
exciting to work where it is all about 
feeding the world," he says. "Researching 
new technologies to move farming to the 
next level, to become more efficient and 
thereby also feeding more people. It is 
very appealing motivation."
Kleinwort officially became man­
aging director Aug. 1 after purchas­
ing SATEC Equipment earlier in 2026. 
Hacklaender continues to assist in the 
background while focusing on SATEC 
Handelsgesellschaft. Kleinwort plans to 
accelerate growth without changing the 
customer-first approach that built the 
company.
CARRYING FORWARD A 
CUSTOMER-FIRST CULTURE
“The previous owner always had a very 
good ear for the customers,” Kleinwort 
says. “Most of the products were orig­
inally developed based on customer 
needs.”
Many began as custom solutions 
before becoming part of SATEC's broader 
product portfolio. Kleinwort believes that 
willingness to listen remains a competitive 
advantage.
“We really carefully listen to the cus­
tomer and their individual needs, and 
then create a perfect solution for them,” 
he says.
SATEC Equipment and SATEC 
Handelsgesellschaft will continue to 
cooperate where it benefits customers, 
combining equipment with expertise and 
products for seed coating and pelleting.
“If results have to be improved, we 
have different possibilities: modifications 
of the equipment, the product or the 
recipe,” Kleinwort says.
That customer focus also shapes how 
Kleinwort views the business.
“We are a family business, and we 
focus on long-term partnerships with our 
customers,” Kleinwort says. “We“re not 
always looking for the most profitable 
solution for ourselves, but we’re looking 
for the most profitable solution for our 
customers.”
MAKING GROWTH 
INTENTIONAL
While SATEC’s values will remain intact, 
Kleinwort sees an opportunity to regain 
momentum. He says SATEC combines 
technology, chemistry and service for 
seed treatment, but increased competi-
tion has changed the landscape.
“Now it’s time to gain back some of 
the business that we lost by building up a 
strong sales organization,” he says.
That includes developing stronger 
sales and service partnerships in North 
America, South America and the Asia-
Pacific region.
“If your machines are good enough, 
they sell themselves,” Kleinwort says of 
the company“s long-standing philosophy. 
“I agree with this statement. But in addi-
tion, I think you also need some presence 
close by your customers.”
BEYOND THE MIXING CHAMBER
Innovation will also fuel growth. SATEC 
has built a strong reputation for labora-
tory coating and pelleting equipment, 
with those customer relationships lead-
ing to larger automated industrial seed 
treatment systems.
The company plans to continue 
investing in automation for laboratory 
coating and pelleting machines, reducing 
repetitive tasks while improving repeata-
bility and testing efficiency.
Kleinwort also wants SATEC to 
develop more equipment before and 
after the seed treatment process so cus-
tomers can source more complete sys-
tems from a single supplier.
PRESERVING WHAT MATTERS
Kleinwort sees the leadership transition 
as both continuity and renewal. He wants 
long-term customers to recognize the 
same commitment to service and part-
nership while seeing renewed investment 
in innovation, new markets and customer 
support.
“Our expertise in machinery, as well 
as in the development of seed treatment 
products and pelleting technology – all 
under one roof – is unrivalled in the 
industry. It offers our customers a compre-
hensive service. This is a treasure worth 
cherishing,” he says. “We are happy to 
welcome new customers, especially from 
new regions, to serve them with excellent 
seed treatment machinery quality, to help 
them to be successful on the market.”
NEW LEADERSHIP IS BRINGING FRESH ENERGY TO SATEC'S CUSTOMER-FIRST CULTURE
Robin Kleinwort takes over as managing 
director of SATEC, bringing an engineering 
background to his new role. Photo: SATEC

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