stow Group officially opens first US manufacturing plant in Georgia, marking a major milestone in North American expansion

European market leader enters us market

240,000 sq ft racking production facility inaugurated in Calhoun, Gordon County — stow’s eighth plant worldwide and first on American soil.

CALHOUN, GA — October 15, 2026 — stow Group, Europe’s leading manufacturer of industrial racking and storage systems, today officially inaugurated its first United States manufacturing facility in Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia. The 240,000 sq ft plant represents a significant investment in American advanced manufacturing and marks a decisive step in stow’s commitment to the North American market.

The inauguration was attended by Georgia and Gordon County officials alongside stow Group leadership, including CEO Jos De Vuyst, President of stow US Karel Boone, Vice President of Sales for the US Ryan Pyle, as well as Blackstone Senior Managing Director Mathieu Cransac and US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White.

Investment in Georgia’s workforce and community

The Calhoun facility is expected to support approximately 200 jobs at full capacity. 120 positions have been filled to date, with further recruitment ongoing across production, engineering, quality control and operations roles. The total investment in the Calhoun facility excluding buildings is estimated at $40–50 million.

From announcement to production in record time

The Calhoun facility was publicly announced at MODEX in Atlanta in April 2026, entered production in May 2026, and is today officially inaugurated — a timeline that reflects both the urgency stow places on its US ambitions and the strength of its execution capability.
The plant is stow’s eighth manufacturing facility worldwide, joining a network of seven European production sites that collectively supply racking solutions to customers in over 60 countries.

Made in America, to American standards

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, the impact is immediate and measurable. 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.

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 — factors that have increasingly complicated import-dependent supply chains in recent years.

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,” said Jos De Vuyst, CEO of stow Group. “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 US. “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.”

“The opening of stow’s first U.S. manufacturing facility marks an important milestone in the company’s continued growth and demonstrates the strength of its long-term expansion strategy,” said Mathieu Cransac, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone. “This investment brings advanced manufacturing capabilities closer to customers, creates high-quality jobs in Georgia, and strengthens domestic supply chains. We are proud to support stow as it continues to expand its footprint, invest in innovation, and serve customers.”

“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.”

“A company’s first step into a new market is an amazing milestone and stow Group’s choice to build that first U.S. footprint in Georgia is an incredible complement to our state’s business environment,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “stow’s new production facility strengthens a number of industries across the state, enhances our international business community and creates new opportunities for northwest Georgians.”

“The Gordon County Board of Commissioners and citizens of Gordon County are grateful to stow for its investment in Gordon County,” mentions James F. Ledbetter, Administrator of Gordon County, Georgia. “We welcome the creation of significant jobs and the important diversification of industry in our community. We look forward to working with stow as it continues to achieve great success.”

“The Gordon Chamber welcomes stow to our community and acknowledges the valuable contribution they are making. In addition to the investment and new job opportunities, it creates economic diversity in our community and supports regional and national industries with racking and storage solutions.” Kathy Johnson, President/CEO of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce.

Already delivering for US customers

The plant did not wait for today’s ribbon cutting to begin making an impact. 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.

The full North American offer — under one roof

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 and a global leader in 4-way pallet shuttle technology, trusted by 200+ warehouses worldwide.
Together, stow and Movu offer North American customers a complete path from static storage to full warehouse automation, backed by local manufacturing, local expertise and the engineering heritage of a global group.

Backed by Blackstone

stow’s move into the United States is backed by the group’s major shareholder, Blackstone, since 2018, supporting the group’s development from a European racking manufacturer into an international storage and warehouse automation business — including the build-out of its automation brand Movu Robotics, sustained investment in robotics and production technology, and now its entry into North America.

Looking ahead

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. The group’s ambition is clear: to become a leading force in North American racking and warehouse automation, built on a foundation of local presence, local production and decades of European engineering excellence.