Smart Lab in use at Hybro Saatzucht GmbH & Co. KG

Efficiency and safety redefined: Smart Lab in use at Hybro Saatzucht GmbH & Co. KG

Efficiency in filling the seeds for trial plots is a decisive factor in modern seed cultivation. Hybro Saatzucht GmbH & Co. KG, Station Wulfsode, specializes in breeding hybrid and population ryes, and took on the challenge of making its seed bag filling more efficient and with a higher level of workplace safety. The solution they opted for was the Smart Lab from WINTERSTEIGER—an innovative system for automated seed filling.

The challenge: working hours and workplace safety

Filling has complex demands: between 900 and 3500 grains must run accurately into each bag, and this applies to thousands of bags across various sites. In the past, the seeds were weighed and distributed centrally at Hybro Saatzucht GmbH & Co. KG, which made it more difficult to make local adaptations for different plot sizes and drew attention to the shortage of specialists.

Initial experience with Smart Lab

The company learned about the machine through a Smart Lab demonstration at the DLG Technicians' Conference in 2024 in Hanover and recognized the potential. It was clear that Smart Lab can bring significant benefits when it comes to workplace safety. The shielding used in the treating and filling process reduced direct contact with chemical substances to a minimum.

Hybro Saatzucht split the Smart Lab work among teams of three, in which every employee was familiar with how to operate the system. One person was responsible for filling the bags, another for the preceding weighing and coating of the entire batch, while the third person sorted the bags by site and sealed them.

Feedback from employees was positive across the board, and they highlighted in particular the increase in safety, as there is no longer any direct contact with treating agents.

Competitiveness and further potential

Hybro Saatzucht has seen an improvement in efficiency and occupational safety thanks to Smart Lab. It represents a significant advantage over traditional systems, especially in light of the shortage of skilled workers. With similar challenges being faced across the industry, Smart Lab is the solution many breeders have been looking for.

It is clear that innovative technologies such as Smart Lab could permanently reshape and revolutionize the future of plant breeding.