Stow
Stow is a company.
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Key people at Stow.
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Who founded Stow?
Stow was founded by Chung Ng (Co-Founder, CEO).
Stow is a company.
Key people at Stow.
Stow was founded by Chung Ng (Co-Founder, CEO).
# stow Group: From Logistics Leader to Warehouse Automation Pioneer
stow Group is a leading industrial storage and automation solutions company that has evolved from a traditional racking systems manufacturer into a comprehensive warehouse logistics innovator.[1][4] Founded in 1985 and based in Paris, France (with operations now headquartered in Belgium), the company designs, manufactures, and installs racking systems, automated storage solutions, and robotics for warehouse optimization.[1][2] stow serves logistics, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, food and beverage, and life sciences sectors across more than 60 countries.[1][6]
The company's transformation accelerated through its partnership with Blackstone, which helped stow build out Movu Robotics—a dedicated robotics division aimed at bringing warehouse automation to global markets.[5] This dual-business model positions stow as both a traditional industrial storage provider and an emerging player in the $150 billion annual material handling market, with ambitions to significantly expand accessibility to warehouse automation through modular, scalable solutions.[2]
stow Group was established in 1985 and spent its first three decades building expertise in industrial racking systems and storage infrastructure.[1] The company achieved European market leadership and became the global number two player in its sector through consistent innovation and operational excellence.[2]
The pivotal moment came with Blackstone's investment, which catalyzed stow's expansion into robotics and automation. Rather than absorbing this new capability, stow strategically separated its robotics operations into Movu Robotics as an independent entity with its own management team and CEO (Stefan Pieters).[2] This separation allowed Movu to operate with entrepreneurial agility while maintaining synergies with stow's established infrastructure—many Movu engineers were drawn from stow's internal shuttle development programs, creating a natural knowledge transfer pipeline.[2]
stow Group sits at the intersection of two powerful trends: the e-commerce-driven explosion in warehouse demand and the automation imperative reshaping logistics infrastructure.[2][5] As companies grapple with labor shortages, rising operational costs, and pressure to accelerate fulfillment speeds, warehouse automation has shifted from a luxury to a necessity.
The timing is particularly favorable for stow's expansion into North America. The U.S. logistics sector is experiencing unprecedented investment, with companies seeking to build redundancy and nearshoring capabilities.[4] However, high interest rates are currently causing some companies to defer automation investments, creating both a near-term headwind and a longer-term opportunity as rates normalize.[2]
stow's influence extends beyond its direct market share. By developing modular, scalable automation solutions through Movu, the company is democratizing warehouse robotics—making it accessible to mid-market operators who previously couldn't justify the capital expenditure of traditional automation systems. This positions stow as a category architect, not just a competitor.[2]
stow Group is executing a textbook transformation from a mature industrial manufacturer into a growth-stage automation innovator. The company's ambition to "regularly double Movu's sales in the coming years" reflects confidence in market demand and product-market fit.[2] Success hinges on three factors: (1) execution of North American manufacturing expansion, (2) continued innovation in modular robotics that lower barriers to adoption, and (3) navigating macroeconomic headwinds—particularly interest rate sensitivity among capital-constrained customers.
The separation of Movu as an independent entity was strategically sound, allowing the robotics division to move with startup velocity while stow maintains its profitable core business. If Movu achieves its growth targets, stow could evolve from a regional industrial leader into a global logistics technology powerhouse, fundamentally reshaping how mid-market warehouses approach automation. The next 2-3 years will be critical in validating whether modular automation can achieve the adoption curves that traditional racking systems enjoyed.
Stow was founded by Chung Ng (Co-Founder, CEO).
Key people at Stow.
