Electric Stackers
How to choose
What it is for
- Electric lift and travel for pallets to racking up to ~5.6 m — the standard machine for warehouse stacking without a forklift licence in many uses.
- Production lines, small/medium warehouses, retail back-of-house.
Check before you choose
- Load weight and lift height together (check residual capacity at height)
- Pallet type: EUR open-bottom → standard forks; closed-bottom/CHEP → straddle or counterbalanced
- Walkie vs. rider (distance, shifts)
- Initial lift for ramps/uneven floors
- Battery: lead-acid/GEL vs. Li-ion
- Aisle width, mast lowered height vs. doors
Not suitable for
- Loads > 2 000 kg or heights > 6 m — reach truck or forklift
- Outdoor rough terrain
- Loading trucks from the side without a dock
What we will ask you before recommending a model
Full electric stacker Technical check — we confirm a few parameters and compatibility with you before the order.
- Heaviest load including pallet, packaging and any attachment? Rule of thumb: use at most 80 % of rated capacity for safety and service life.
- Dimensions (L×W×H) of the largest and of the heaviest load? Is the centre of gravity known and centred? The load centre moves away from the mast as the load gets longer; real capacity falls with load-centre distance and lift height (capacity diagram). Tall loads raise the COG.
- Is the load always on a EUR pallet (open bottom)? Or CHEP / closed-bottom / plastic pallets, boxes, or goods placed directly on the forks? Dimensions of the pallet underside? Forks with support legs underneath need an open-bottom pallet. Goods without a pallet load the forks at points and bend them. Pallet compatibility matters more than capacity.
- How high must the load be lifted — top rack beam, vehicle bed, machine table? How many rack levels? Capacity at maximum height is much lower than nominal (residual capacity). Customers know 'the rack', not millimetres — ask them to measure the top beam.
- Lowest passage in the working area (doors, beams, pipes, mezzanine, container, lift)? Ceiling height where stacking happens? Lowered mast height must pass every obstacle; extended mast must fit under ceiling, lighting and sprinklers.
- Aisle width between racks and the narrowest passage / door? Every truck has a stacking-aisle width (Ast). Compare with Ast, not with the truck width.
- What is the floor: industrial concrete, asphalt, paving, gravel, uneven, potholes, sharp edges, expansion joints, thresholds, drains? Small polyurethane wheels and no suspension: tolerance for unevenness is very low. Sharp edges cut the PU tread; gaps stop the small load rollers.
- Are there gradients (ramps, slopes) in the working area? How steep (%) and how long (m)? Pedestrian and stand-on trucks are designed for level floors; motor, brakes and drive-wheel traction are sized for occasional short ramps. On a long or steep slope they overheat, lose traction or cannot hold the load.
- How long must the truck run continuously, how many hours per day and shifts? Pallets per hour, distance per trip? Battery capacity and truck class follow from this. Most buyers under-specify on price and end up with a truck that stops mid-shift.
Typical mistakes to avoid
- Nominal capacity is not enough — confirm residual capacity at the actual height and COG (load chart).
Helpful to have ready: Pallet · Mass/COG · Height · Aisle (Ast) · Doors/ceiling · Gradient · Route · Shifts · Charging voltage
How to choose an electric stacker
Electric stackers close the gap between the hand pallet truck and the forklift: they lift pallets into racking up to 6.5 m without needing the aisle width, cost or licence class of a counterbalanced truck. The families differ by drive and geometry. Semi-electric stackers power the lift while the operator still pushes; full-electric stackers power travel and lift for continuous duty; initial-lift models raise their own chassis to double as a pallet truck; counterbalanced stackers work without straddle legs, so closed pallets and non-palletised loads pose no problem; and reach stackers extend the forks forward for double-deep and tight-aisle work.
Below this family sit manual stackers for occasional duty; above it, reach trucks for full-shift racking work at height. Contact us with your pallet type, weights, beam heights and aisle widths and we will recommend the right model.
Frequently asked questions
Semi-electric or full-electric stacker?
Semi-electric powers only the lift — fine when distances are short and stacking occasional. Once the truck travels real distances or works most of the shift, powered drive pays for itself in operator time and consistency.
What if my pallets are closed or non-standard?
Standard stackers need straddle-leg clearance under or beside the pallet. For closed pallets choose a counterbalanced stacker (no legs) or straddle versions with adjustable legs; for double-deep racking, a reach stacker.
What heights and capacities do electric stackers cover?
The programme spans roughly 1000–2000 kg with lift heights from 1600 mm up to about 6500 mm depending on family and mast. Capacity reduces at height — always check the load diagram against your top beam level.
How quickly can an electric stacker be delivered?
Request a quote on the product page with the mast height and battery preference and we will confirm the current lead time, delivery cost and commissioning support for your location.