Klaas van de Poppe appointed CEO of Eqraft

Eqraft announces the appointment of Klaas van de Poppe as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective May 1, 2026. He succeeds Marcel Kampes, who has stepped down from his role as CEO to pursue independent ventures focused on leadership and start-ups.

Van de Poppe brings extensive international leadership experience in the technology and manufacturing sectors. Throughout his career, he has held various executive positions at both large corporations and SMEs, including companies operating in the agricultural sector.

Eqraft designs and builds processing lines and complete factories worldwide for sorting, weighing, and packing potatoes and onions. The company supplies individual machines as well as fully integrated high-tech systems, supported by software and AI applications.

For more than forty years, Eqraft has helped growers, processing companies, and packaging businesses establish efficient and reliable operations. Today, the company is a leading full-service partner for the post-harvest potato and onion industry worldwide, serving customers across Europe, North America, and Australia.

Eqraft is headquartered in Emmeloord, the Netherlands, and operates additional offices in Goes and Richland, Washington (USA). In the years ahead, the company will focus on growth in both existing and new markets, technological innovation, and the continued development of its after-sales services.

Eqraft’s roots date back to the 1980s. Since 2019, Marcel Kampes and Rutger Keurhorst have led the company together. Reflecting on that period, Keurhorst said: “I look back with great appreciation on my collaboration with Marcel. Together, we have worked hard to strengthen and grow the organization. It was a period full of challenges, but above all one of development and shared successes.”

The appointment of Klaas van de Poppe marks a new chapter for Eqraft. “I look forward to continuing to build the future of Eqraft and the post-harvest potato and onion industry together with Klaas and our teams,” said Rutger Keurhorst.

This confidence is shared by Bart Aangenendt, Co-CEO of Hydratec Industries NV, which has been the majority shareholder of Eqraft since January 2025: “We are delighted to welcome Klaas and are convinced that he will guide Eqraft into its next phase of growth.”

Van de Poppe commented: “I am genuinely looking forward to working with the Eqraft team. By listening closely to our customers and combining our knowledge and experience, we can deliver high-quality and profitable solutions for the sorting, weighing, and packing of potatoes and onions.”

Klaas van de Poppe has been appointed CEO of Eqraft effective May 1, 2026.