stow Group opens first US manufacturing plant in Georgia
stow Group, a European manufacturer of industrial racking and storage systems, officially inaugurated its first U.S. manufacturing facility on Oct. 15 in Calhoun, Georgia.
The company said its 240,000 sqare-foot 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 U.S. 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. One hundred and twenty 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.
The new facility was publicly announced at MODEX in Atlanta in April 2026 and entered production in May 2026, reflecting the urgency stow places on its U.S. ambitions and the strength of its execution capability, according to the company.
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 De Vuyst, . "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 U.S. 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 Cransac. "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.”
The plant did not wait for its 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 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.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The September/October issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Rotator Products. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam and Frank Hurtte, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
