NOVEMBER 2026  SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA   31
Robin Kleinwort takes over as managing 
director of SATEC, bringing an engineering 
background to his new role. Photo: SATEC
R
obin Kleinwort never expected his path 
to the seed industry to begin with a 
hunting group.
More than a decade ago, the mechani­
cal engineer met SATEC founder Jens 
Hacklaender through a shared hunting horn 
group in Germany. Over the years, conver­
sations 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 business. 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 excit­
ing to work where it is all about feeding the 
world,” he says. “Researching new tech­
nologies 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 managing 
director Aug. 1 after purchasing SATEC 
Equipment earlier in 2026. Hacklaender 
continues to assist in the background while 
focusing on SATEC Handelsgesellschaft. 
Kleinwort plans to accelerate growth with­
out 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 originally 
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.
PARTNER CONTENT
Built on Trust, Ready to Grow
New leadership is bringing fresh energy to SATEC’s customer-first culture
tasks while improving repeatability and 
testing efficiency.
Kleinwort also wants SATEC to develop 
more equipment before and after the seed 
treatment process so customers can source 
more complete systems from a single sup­
plier.
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 partnership 
while seeing renewed investment in innova­
tion, new markets and customer support.
“Our expertise in machinery, as well as 
in the development of seed treatment prod­
ucts and pelleting technology – all under 
one roof – is unrivalled in the industry. It 
offers our customers a comprehensive ser­
vice. 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 suc­
cessful on the market.”
SATEC Equipment and SATEC 
Handelsgesellschaft will continue to coop­
erate where it benefits customers, combin­
ing 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 custom­
ers,” 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 competition 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 addition, 
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 leading to 
larger automated industrial seed treatment 
systems.
The company plans to continue invest­
ing in automation for laboratory coating 
and pelleting machines, reducing repetitive 

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