OCTOBER 2026 SEEDWORLD.COM / 21 PARTNER CONTENT Built on Trust, Ready to Grow New leadership is bringing fresh energy to SATEC’s customer-first culture. 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, 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 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 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 managing director Aug. 1 after purchasing SATEC Equipment earlier in 2026. Hacklaender continues to assist in the background while focusing on SATEC Handelsge sellschaft. 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 originally developed based on customer needs.” Many began as custom solutions before becoming part of SATEC’s broader product portfolio. Kleinwort believes that will ingness to listen remains a competitive advantage. “We really carefully listen to the cus That includes developing stronger sales and service partnerships in North Amer ica, 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 laboratory coating and pelleting equipment, with those customer relationships leading to larger automated industrial seed treat ment systems. The company plans to continue invest ing in automation for laboratory coating and pelleting machines, reducing repeti tive tasks while improving repeatability and testing efficiency. Kleinwort also wants SATEC to de velop more equipment before and after the seed treatment process so customers can source more complete systems 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 partner ship 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.” Robin Kleinwort takes over as managing director of SATEC, bringing an engineering background to his new role. PHOTO: SATEC tomer and their individual needs, and then create a perfect solution for them,” he says. SATEC Equipment and SATEC Handelsgesellschaft will continue to coop erate where it benefits customers, combin ing equipment with expertise and prod ucts 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 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.
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