Seed technologies pioneers
Understanding the value of seed and grain processing as well as the challenges behind these comprehensive process chains led to the birth of “Strong Seed. Healthy Grain.” as an operating philosophy. Today as in the past: Our daily business is dedicated to technology for and around seed and grain.
Decades of seed and grain processing & conditioning excellence
Pioneering. Imagining. Innovating. Developing. Manufacturing. From the first seed cleaning machines in 1852 to pioneering the agricultural industry by innovating machines in drying, cleaning, sorting and coating — processing seed and grain gently, precisely and efficiently, grain by grain. PETKUS as an idea factory has been led by inventor genes for generations through the company’s history and truly embodies the Innovation in our DNA. Experience and knowledge combined with courage to challenge what is to what can be is what sets PETKUS apart. Standing for delivering world leading technologies and innovations for turning your harvest into Strong seed. Healthy Grain. — PETKUS.
Our path of agricultural innovation
PETKUS has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of global agriculture through technological advancement and strategic growth.
1852-1880
PETKUS founder Christian Friedrich Röber started with manufacturing agricultural machinery, including so-called winnowing.
The new factory was taken into operation with using the river "Erbstrom" as power source.
1880-1910
The sons Carl and Rudolf Röber took over their father’s business and focused on seed cleaning technologies, registered countless patents worldwide, some of which still represent key technologies at PETKUS to this day.
Numerous honorary degrees and gold medals were awarded for PETKUS technology in Germany, Russia, Great Britain, France, Austria and Hungary and the reference list fills with names such as His Majesty Wilhelm II, Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm, Fürst Otto von Bismarck and Ferdinand von Lochow, owner of the Petkus manor in Brandenburg.
The Röber brothers patent the name in wise foresight and since 1910, the name PETKUS occurs in the brochure and leaflets of the company, based on the legendary Petkus cleaner.
1902-1922
New, bigger and most modern factory building was built. Due to taking EH&S aspects into account, the company was awarded with an honorary certificate from the board of trade of the Grand Duchy of Saxony.
The annual revenue was more than 5.000 machines, exported to over 30 different countries.
PETKUS expanded and employed approximately 280 people. Until 1930 PETKUS gains and keeps growing a worldwide reputation: the name "Röber" has become synonymous with the best cleaning machines.
1948-1990 East Germany
PETKUS technologies proved to be so unique and exceptional that the company managed to survive difficult times and political chaos – the expropriation following the Second World War transformed PETKUS into the nationally owned enterprise “LBH Landmaschinenfabrik Wutha”, shortly after renamed and restructured to VEB PETKUS Landmaschinenwerk Wutha/Thüringen in East Germany.
Later the company is integreated into the “Kombinat Fortschritt”. The first seed technology center in Creuzburg is established to test and optimize seed and grain processing machines under practical conditions. PETKUS’ machines conquer the world, with over 32,000 cleaning and sorting units sold. Every year, several hundred block trains are loaded and headed for the former UDSSR, Bulgaria, Hungary, Cuba, Egypt, Libya, Algeria and Syria.
1952-1990 West Germany
Commercial director Albert Scholze and Paul Röber flee from East to West Germany with precious cargo: the construction plans of the Petkus seed-cleaner. In 1952 the two establish the spin-off of company RÖBER GmbH in Minden/Westphalia. In 1975 Albert Scholzes son Dieter Scholze takes the lead and expands Petkus internationally, with new marketplaces in Africa, India and across the Middle East. Röber also includes coating technologies and starts to engineer turn-key plants for the seed industry.
1994 - today
After the unifying of Germany 3rd Generation Mark Scholze privatises PETKUS with investors from the business to continue the tradition of the family and the company and reunites Röber and PETKUS at the Wutha-Farnroda site.
To honour the PETKUS founder, the ROEBER Institute as Innovation Center (R&D) is established in 2011.
Today PETKUS employs around 300 people in sales, service and engineering hubs in 23 countries. The company has installed over 200.000 cleaning machines and 2.000 complete seed-lines in the past 40 years. Double-digit average growth rate of the PETKUS-Group demonstrates the trust that customers place in competence and proficiency. Nik Scholze has joined Mark Scholze in 2022, marking the 4th Generation of the Family company.
Cleaning and sorting machinery
In collaboration with the ideas and needs from customers and suppliers it is our mission to create specific solutions and tailored continuous advancement. We believe collaboration is the key to future success and our commitment to growth and knowledge is harvested from our global network and university partnerships. PETKUS is committed to providing an atmosphere that fosters growth and innovation. The dedication to the long standing tradition and family entrepreneur indicates trust and responsibility to the company’s development, our employees and our international culture. Our desire to meet our customers needs and goal to satisfy everyone within the company and it’s network is our daily motivation.
Our guiding principles
We are committed to developing sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced solutions for global agriculture.
Core principles driving our agricultural innovation
Highest Standard in Technology, Innovation, Engineering and Services
(T-I-E-S) are the key competencies mirrored in all of PETKUS and its linked companies.
Innovation driven
From the worldwide first seed cleaning machines, multicoater that simultaneously dry and treat to AI developments — we ensure individual and customer specific solutions or complete packages from investment planning, commissioning, delivering and training for turnkey plants. Our core principle derived letters T-I-E-S embody into a value based strategy for our customer development.
T I E S
The term “ties” equally stands for connection, relationship, obligation and responsibility, which are linked to our commitment towards customers and deeply engrained mindset of our company culture.
Strong Seed. Healthy Grain.
The operating philosophy of Strong Seed. Healthy Grain. derives from understanding the value and complexity behind the comprehensive chains of seed and grain processing. From 1852 to this day the business is dedicated to technology for and around seed and grain.
Seed solutions for every crop - Contact us for any questions
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