Stout Conveyors founders Jon Fike and Nick Bardall stand in front of the company's first conveyor during day-one testing in 2019, marking the beginning of a journey that has since taken their machines to jobsites across the country.
As a participant in the Warehouse Business Accelerator's Fall 2026 Make It Accelerator Program, Stout Conveyors is building on strong momentum while preparing for its next phase of growth.
Based in Montrose, Colorado, Stout Conveyors manufactures telescoping material placement conveyors entirely under one roof, from raw steel through final assembly. Since building its first machine in 2019, the company has steadily expanded its reach, with TC-50 units now helping contractors on jobsites across the country move gravel, sand, soil, and concrete more efficiently.
A Stout Conveyors machine on display at the company's first trade show, an early milestone in sharing its innovative material placement technology with the construction industry.
Stout's mission is simple: help contractors move more material, faster, with fewer people.
That mission addresses a significant challenge facing the construction industry today. With labor shortages continuing nationwide, material placement remains one of the most labor-intensive jobs on a construction site. Stout's conveyors allow a single operator to place material up to 80 feet away, reducing labor needs while giving contractors greater control over their schedules and productivity.
While demand for the product is strong, Stout joined the Make It Accelerator to focus on scaling the business strategically. Through the program, the team has worked on strengthening systems, refining organizational structure, and developing a plan to increase production from approximately 15 machines annually to 50 without sacrificing quality or performance.
Along the way, customer discovery revealed an important insight: financing options, more than equipment cost, are often the biggest barrier for prospective customers. The program has also helped the company identify key future hires, improve capacity planning, and refine its approach to growth.
Recent milestones include securing a larger facility to support expanded production, with a move planned for Winter 2026-27, creating a product roadmap that includes new 90-foot towable and truck-mounted conveyor models, and developing a growth strategy funded through cash flow rather than outside investment.
And for a fun bit of company culture, Stout's leadership team completed the Working Genius assessment through the Make It program and discovered they're both natural "starters" who love dreaming up the next machine. When it comes to paperwork, however, they're grateful for a team that helps turn those ideas into reality.
We're proud to have Stout Conveyors as part of the current Make It Accelerator cohort and look forward to seeing their continued growth as they strengthen manufacturing in rural Colorado and help contractors across the country work smarter and more efficiently.
Learn more about Stout Conveyors at: https://stoutconveyors.com