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Stow group opens first North American factory. Georgia plant will support expansion of the company's industrial racking and storage systems in the U.S. By Brian Albright · October 15, 2026 stow Group has opened its first North American manufacturing plant in Calhoun, Georgia to support expansion of its racking and storage solutions business in the U.S. The 240,000 square foot facility is Belgium-based stow's eighth plant worlwide. The facility opening was attended by Georgia and Gordon County officials alongside stow Group leadership, including CEO Jos De Vuyst, President of stow U.S. Karel Boone, Vice President of Sales for the U.S. Ryan Pyle, as well as Blackstone Senior Managing Director Mathieu Cransac and U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White. The Calhoun facility is expected to support approximately 200 jobs at full capacity. The total investment in the Calhoun facility excluding buildings is estimated at $40-50 million. The Calhoun plant is one component of stow Group's growing North American infrastructure. The group's commercial hub in Romeoville, Illinois, covers sales and service across the United States, offering customers access to stow's full product portfolio: from conventional pallet racking and the stow Atlas 4.0 semi-automated pallet shuttle system, through to fully automated warehouse solutions delivered by Movu Robotics, stow's automation brand for 4-way pallet shuttle technology. "The racking market in the U.S. is worth $5 billion," said stow CEO Jos De Vuyst in a briefing with Modern Material Handling. "While we had considered buying a U.S.-based competitor, we decided to grow organically. Our decision to build a manufacturing plant in the U.S. was also accelerated by geopolitical events, including the import duties imposed by the Trump administration, which made it difficult to export racking from Europe to the U.S." The focus on the U.S. market was also spurred by the success of the Movu Robotics business, which also incorporates stow racking into its solutions. De Vuyst added that stow is expanding its network of distributors and partners in the region as well. The company is also evaluating opening and additional factory in the northeast or western U.S. in the future. stow also recently announced an expansion of its U.S. sales team with the addition of Jeff Rogers as Regional Sales Director and Pyle as Vice President of Sales for the U.S. Movu Robotics CEO Christophe Coulongeat was also named President of Movu U.S. The company also announced the construction of a new Experience Center in Romeoville that will mirror its facility in Belgium. The Calhoun plant produces both stow punch and roll-formed teardrop racking systems, fully engineered to U.S. codes including RMI 2023 standards. Every unit that leaves the facility meets the same precision benchmarks as stow's European plants - now manufactured domestically, on American timelines. For U.S. warehouse operators, lead times that previously stretched to 12-15 weeks on imported racking are now expected to drop to approximately 6-9 weeks for domestically produced product, resulting in faster project timelines and greater operational flexibility, the company says. Beyond lead times, domestic production strengthens supply chain resilience. stow's U.S. customers are now shielded from ocean freight disruption, tariff volatility and currency fluctuation. The facility is equipped with fully automated production lines and robotic precision welding technology, positioning it as one of the most advanced racking manufacturing plants in the United States. The result is a level of quality consistency that is difficult to achieve at scale through manual processes alone. "This plant is not just a manufacturing facility - it is a statement of intent," De Vuyst said. "We are committed to the North American market for the long term. Calhoun is our first U.S. plant, but it will not be our last. We intend to capture significant market share in this market, and we will invest accordingly to make that happen." "There are very few racking plants in the United States built the way this one is," said Tolga Sener, President of US Operations, stow U.S. "Fully automated production lines and robotic welding cells mean the thousandth frame off the line is identical to the first. In our industry, that repeatability is key. For our customers, it shows up as racking that meets RMI 2023 standards on every unit rather than on a sample, that goes up straight and fast on site, and that performs exactly as it was engineered to, year after year." "Georgia's reliable infrastructure network and strategic location ensure we remain a gateway to opportunity, and companies like stow Group are a big reason why our robust logistics industry continues to deliver results across the state," said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. "We look forward to this great job creator's impact on the community and critical industries throughout Georgia." U.S.-produced racking is already being delivered and installed across projects nationwide, with the first locally manufactured product entering service earlier this year. By the end of 2026, the facility is expected to process approximately one hundred million pounds of steel per year. With the Calhoun facility now operational, stow Group is already investing in the next phase of its North American infrastructure, including capacity expansion in Georgia.

Stow expands into U.S. Manufacturing with new automated plant in Georgia! Thursday 16 April 2026, 12:42:23 PM stow Group, through its racking division Stow, has announced the opening of its first manufacturing facility in the United States. The new 240,000-square-foot plant in Adairsville, Georgia, marks a significant step in strengthening the company's presence in the North American market. The facility is designed as a fully automated production site, enabling the local manufacturing of advanced racking systems tailored to U.S. industry requirements. The plant will produce both stow punch and roll-formed teardrop racking solutions, ensuring compliance with domestic standards while offering faster delivery and improved supply chain responsiveness for customers. This expansion complements Stow's existing U.S. office in Romeoville, Illinois, and its broader manufacturing network across Europe. By establishing a local production base, the company aims to better serve customers in the region, reduce lead times, and enhance flexibility in meeting project demands. Operations at the Adairsville facility are scheduled to begin in April 2026, with the plant expected to create approximately 200 jobs in the local community. The investment reflects the growing demand for efficient storage and warehouse solutions, driven by sectors such as logistics, e-commerce, and manufacturing. Overall, the new facility underscores Stow's commitment to expanding its global footprint while delivering high-quality, locally manufactured solutions that support the evolving needs of modern supply chains. Want to know more? Whether it's extra details on this article or information about MTD's services, fill in this form and we'll get back to you. All the latest videos/ events and stories in your inbox. Join thousands of professionals staying ahead with MTD. Sign up to receive the latest videos, insights, and exclusive content from the world of manufacturing

Leadership update: stow & Movu strengthen their US teams for a new era of growth. Ahead of the new Atlanta factory opening, stow Group is strategically reinforcing its US leadership framework. To enhance local customer success and drive market expansion, both leadership teams have been strengthened with seasoned executives appointed to lead their respective divisions. Belgium, 17th of March 2026 stow Group As the start-up of its racking factory in Atlanta (US) is approaching, and ahead of the MODEX fair, Stow International nv want to announce Stow International nv will further strengthen the management of both the stow and Movu divisions in the US. stow US Sales A few weeks ago, Stow International nv welcomed Jeff Rogers, who has taken on the role of Regional Sales Director. Additionally, Ryan Pyle will start on March 17 as Vice President of Sales for the US. Both Ryan and Jeff bring many years of experience in US racking sales and storage solutions. Ryan Pyle will further develop and build up the sales structure, including a regional organization, a distributor network, and key accounts. Ryan will report to Karel Boone, who will become President of stow US Sales with immediate effect. Over the past six years, Karel has successfully held several management positions within stow and Movu. As CSO US, Karel will also join the stow management board and report directly to the group CEO, Jos De Vuyst. Stow International nv would like to thank Karel Boone for his dedication and contribution to Movu, congratulate him on his new and important role within stow Group Karel Boone: "I'm excited to take on this role and further develop our presence in the American market, supported by our new state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities in Atlanta. With racking made in the USA, a highly experienced sales team, and strong local engineering and execution resources, we are ideally positioned to deliver even greater value to our customers." Movu US Movu Robotics is entering a new phase of growth in North America. As such, Christophe Coulongeat - CEO of Movu - will also take on the role of President of Movu US. This is a natural step to accelerate this trajectory, bringing leadership closer to the market and reinforcing its ambition to lead the transformation of warehouse automation. Christophe comments: "Our customers in North America are scaling faster than ever, and they expect automation partners who can match that pace with local expertise and execution excellence. By assuming the role of President of Movu US, I will work closely with our regional teams to ensure we remain highly responsive, deeply connected to our customers, and fully equipped to deliver complex automation projects with speed, reliability, and long-term value. With our expanding U.S. footprint and proven technologies, we are uniquely positioned to scale innovation into industrial reality across the region." Jos De Vuyst CEO stow & stow group Christophe Coulongeat CEO Movu & President Movu US