A new pallet stacker could be the best alternative to a used forklift

When the time comes for companies to replace their aging forklifts, they often look for a second-hand truck in good condition. While there’s every chance that the used truck may be perfectly fine, is it always the best choice for your application?

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It’s often the case that the company hasn’t really thought about how the machine is actually being used day-to-day. Ideally, they’d look at how often it’s being used and in what situations. After all, the truck may have been in service for 5 or 10 years and businesses can change significantly in that time.

By looking at the situation with fresh eyes, they may well come to a completely different purchasing decision today. For example, in the past, they might have replaced two forklifts with two like-for-like models. After evaluation, those trucks could potentially be replaceable with an electric forklift (such as the EDiA EM which can cover the indoor and outdoor lifting), and a stacker to put merchandise away in pallet racking.

Of course, the question many of you will now be asking is: “Really? A pallet stacker? But how can that be a real alternative to a forklift truck?”

And while your doubt is understandable, and use of a pallet stacker does depend on the specific application, there are a few strong arguments that may help to make the case for stackers:

Is the stacker powerful enough?

Well, the majority of forklifts used fall into the in the 1.5–2.5-tonne range. This is particularly true in small distributions or warehouses where the majority of pallets weigh even less. A modern electric stacker combines good ergonomics (as operators no longer need to pull or push the tiller arm) with load capacities up to 2 tonnes.

Isn’t the stacker only for the first 2 levels?

In addition to pedestrian stackers, there are also models such as sit-on stackers with very high residual capacities. Sit-on or stand-on versions can effortlessly put a pallet away in most standard warehouses with 4 meters racking height. Models such as the Mitsubishi SBS15-20N are more than happy lifting goods up to 6.5m in narrow aisles.

Don’t you have to walk a lot with a stacker?

While it’s true the pedestrian stacker is not made to cover large distances, there are models a (foldable) platform available which have been designed for exactly that purpose.

Another big advantage of using a stacker: they provide excellent maneuverability in tight aisles. This allows you to place the racking closer to increase your warehouse capacity. Compact, robust and extremely versatile, stackers are an excellent, cost-effective choice for fast and safe pallet lifting.

So ask yourself: when you’re next in the market for a truck, what will you choose?