Electric Pallet Stackers
EP Equipment offers a large variety of electric pallet stackers for sale, for every application. Starting with entry level stacker for light duty application over heavy duty stacker with lead acid or Li-Ion Battery to special application trucks like counterbalance stacker trucks or end rider solutions.
What is an electric stacker?
Electric pallet stackers are the ultimate entry level material handling equipment for transporting, lifting, and loading pallets.
Where an electric pallet truck can transport pallets through a warehouse the electric stacker provides a next stage for warehouse operations as it not only allows for transportation but also stacking of pallets on to each other and onto racking. An electric stacker has powered lifting and driving and can transport goods at ground level but also vertically to allow for maximised storage space on warehouse racking.
Manual vs Electric
Choosing an electric powered stacker is a better choice than a hydraulic stacker for several reasons. Manual pallet stackers may be initially cheaper than electric models but when considering the additional benefits of electric stackers going electric seems like the obvious choice.
An electric powered stacker has the following advantages:
- Increased capacity
- Decreased operator strain
- Improved efficiency
- Zero harmful emissions
And lithium-ion stackers from EP provide additional benefits including:
- No maintenance
- Opportunity charging
- Battery swapping
Semi electric vs Electric
A semi electric stacker means that one out of 2 functions are electric
Lifting or driving
When you consider the ergonomics of using an electric stacker compared to a manual or semi electric pallet truck the biggest consideration isoperator safety and comfort. Most strain for the operator comes from the action of pulling a heavy load. To build the initial momentum, the most force is required and is the highest risk of workplace injury and long-term operator issues. Electric lifting is not as essential, therefore semi electric pallet trucks are often electric drive and manual lift.
However, A semi electric stacker starts at around 2,000 euros but for just a small increase in price you can get an electric stacker with the full benefits of electric lifting and driving. Therefore, at EP Equipment we only provide fully electric stacker models.
What is a stacker used for?
As the E-commerce industries grow, the demand for larger warehouses and storage facilities is increasing and the optimisation of these spaces is critical to successful operation.
In order to meet the growing demand for goods from the consumer warehouses a growing bigger but also taller to accommodate increased volume. This means that the stacking of goods onto warehouse racking is a must for most businesses, and this is where the electric stacker comes in to play.
The changes and developments in warehouses have meant that material handling requirements have exceeded what can be provided by a pallet truck. An electric stacker is the perfect machine for businesses with demands that cannot be met by a pallet truck but also do not require all the features of forklift trucks at a higher cost.
Pallet stackers are perfect for warehouses, construction environments and storerooms. They can be used to move heavy goods and boxes and can be utilised to store pallets on high racking for convenient and efficient storage. Stackers have the advantage of still being a compact tool meaning that they can operate well on the shop floor if required to move goods from the warehouse to a customer. They can also provide additional advantages such as creating a workstation platform for packing and shipping good in the warehouse.
Considerations to find the right powered pallet stacker
When looking for an electric stacker there are a few questions to consider ensure the model can meet the handling requirements of your business requirements:
Drive type
When looking at the drive type of an electric stacker it is important to consider the location of the drive wheel in relation to the chassis of the truck. The two industry drive types are centralised and decentralised.
Centralised
Some powered stacker models have the drive wheel located in the centre of the truck with 4 points of additional ground contact created with the inclusion of support wheels at each corner. This type of drive is effective however can mean that traction on the drive wheel is increased. This means the truck can perform well on uneven ground and for ramps however more reliance on the support wheels creates a less stable drive meaning that the stability of the truck can be compromised.
Centralised drive types are fine when used for electric pallet trucks as the traction is more important than stability as you are not lifting very high. In stackers the importance of stability outweighs the need for high levels of traction to improve the safety of the machine.
Decentralised
With EP Equipment stackers, the drive wheel is located to the left-hand side of the truck with only 3 additional points of contact added via support wheels. This means that EP powered stackers have maximised stability as when support wheels are used, they will drive force towards the side of the truck with the drive wheel and create a more stable chassis overall. Unlike centralised drive wheels they are not relying on 4 contact points surrounding the wheel but only 3 driving force towards the wheel.
Benefits of decentralised drive type include:
- Increased Stability
- Increased Safety
Mast types
The mast is what increases the capabilities of a stacker beyond that of a pallet truck allowing it to assist with transporting and storing goods on racking that cannot be reached by a pallet truck.
There are 4 main mast types to consider:
Simplex mast (single lift mast)
A simplex mast is composed of a fixed outer mast with a mobile lifting carriage
Advantages
- More stable than mono mast
- Higher load capacity than mono mast
- Mast height does not change when lifting
Disadvantages
- No large lifting heights attainable, since the lifting carriage can only lift to the overall height of the mast meaning there can be no added height.
Mono mast (single column single mast)
A mono mast stacker such as EP’s MM Series is a single-column fixed mast with a lifting carriage and compact design.
Advantages
- Free view of the load
- Minimal change in overall height when lifting
- Vehicle is lighter and can also be used on intermediate floors
Disadvantages
- No large lifting heights achievable
Duplex mast (two-section telescopic mast)
A duplex mast has 2 mast profiles, one is a moveable inner mast, and one acts as a fixed outer lifting frame. All trucks from EP Equipment are designed with a duplex mast, the full range of ep stackers is available here: EP Electric Stackers
Advantages
- Two-stage lift enables stacking at greater heights
- Free lift height still allows for load to be lifted and moved without extending the mast with a ratio of 2:1 beyond this
- Models equipped with a second lift cylinder offer a significantly greater free lift and allow loads to be transported to even greater heights without extending the mast with a lift ratio of 1:1 beyond this.
Disadvantages
- For some applications, a higher free lift may be needed
Triplex mast
Triplex mast stackers are made up of two mobile inner driving masts with a fixed outer lifting frame. Models from EP with triplex masts include:
RS Series
RSI Series
Advantages
- Three-stage lift enables stacking and retrieval at maximum height available
- Triplex achieves the best ratio between overall height and achievable lifting height
- Full free lift also enables use in rooms with low entrances
Disadvantages
- There are no disadvantages as maximum lifting height can be found with this mast.
What is initial lift?
Initial lift is an additional lift, which is operated independently of the mast lift and raises the wheel arms to increase the level of ground clearance.
All Stackers (excluding counterbalance stackers) have fork arms on the ground supporting the forks for stability. The forks are what is pulled up from resting on the fork arms to lift goods. Because the fork arms are always on the ground to support the lowered forks, this means that they always have very low ground clearance.
By operating with the function of initial lift the mechanism raises the wheels and allows fo the stacker to gain ground clearance and be used on ramps and un-even ground more easily. With a stacker the lifting mechanism lifts the forks and the functions of initial lift increase the ground clearance meaning the stacker has increased usability.
Double stacking
Some initial lift trucks allow for double stacking. This means that both the fork arms and the forks can be used to lift pallets on to racking.
Lift Height
The lifting mast allows for the stacker to move its pallet or goods vertically. To choose the right stacker you must consider if the mast has the parameters to operate and stack goods in your storage racks or in the warehouse environment in general. When deciding on an electric stacker model you should determine the maximum lift height you require and factor this into your decision.
Proportional Lifting
While the standard lifting option of our stackers uses a single speed to lift and lower the forks of the truck to stack and store goods, proportional lifting can provide increased accuracy.
Proportional lifting is related to the force used on the controls to operate the truck.
For lifting this means that when a small amount of force is used on the controls the lift speed is slower than when the operator applies more force.
This is important because with stackers accuracy is key and proportional lifting allows for greater precision when stacking goods. This means that safety and efficiency are improved as the operator has increased control of the lift.
Load capacity
By CE norm stackers must be able to lift the rated capacity up to a lifting height of 2.5m. While many competitors do not reach this, EP stackers are guaranteed to meet CE certification.
Battery size and type
At EP our innovative power stackers are equipped with one of 3 possible battery types:
Gel (AGM) rechargeable batteries are robust and powerful and a very cheap option when looking for an affordable electric stacker truck.
Statistics
- Approx. 900 charge cycles
- Minimum 6.5 hours charge time
Advantages
- No Maintenance
- Low gassing
Disadvantages
- No opportunity charging
- Longer charging times,
- Performance decreases after a certain time (memory effect),
- Only short operating times possible
Lead Acid batteries are a well-known power solution for material handling equipment. The battery display allows you to always keep an eye on the battery charge level and the number of operating hours
Statistics
- Approx. 1200 charge cycles
- Minimum 6.5 hours charge time
Advantages
- Less expensive than lithium-ion in short term
- Longer life than gel batteries
Disadvantages
- No opportunity charging
- Longer charging times
- Weekly maintenance
- Special charging station requirements
Lithium-ion is possibly the most efficient solution when looking for a powered pallet stacker. The zero-maintenance battery allows for opportunity charging and Plug&Play technology from EP means that you can run with zero down time.
Statistics
- Approx. 3000 charge cycles, highest of all battery options
- 1.5-3 hours charge time with opportunity charging available
Advantages
- Zero Maintenance
- High efficiency
- Longest service life
- Can be charged with a plug at a standard socket
- Cost effective
Disadvantages
- More expensive initially
Ride On Stackers
If you need to stack in heavy duty application with longer travel distance, your application might be best suited to an electric ride-on pallet stacker. These machines are built for single or multi shift application, equipped with changeable Lead acid or Li-ion battery, and come with a foldable operator platform.
If the platform is raised, the truck can be used as a standard walkie stacker with low speed. When the operator is using the platform and sidearms, the speed of the stacker is increased, and they can drive through the warehouse at a comfortable and efficient speed to cover long distances and improve your experience.
Ride on stacker models available from EP:
ES16-RS
RSB141
ESR151
ES-CA/CS Series
Q. How many types of stackers are there?
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Q. What is a walkie stacker? A walkie stacker is an alternative name for a stacker that has the operator walk behind the truck during operation. A walkie stacker can be manual or assisted by electric power and walkie stackers from EP include:
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Q. How high can a walkie stacker reach? When buying a stacker, it is important to consider lift height and free lift height. The lift height of a walkie stacker can vary depending on model. |
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Q. How heavy is a walkie stacker? A walkie stacker from EP can range in service weight from 540kg with the ES10-10ES 1t truck to 1170kg for the ES20WA 2t model. How heavy a walkie stacker is can depend on several features of the truck and the requirements for its operations including battery side and capacity. |
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Q. How do you use a stacker? A stacker is a simple piece of material handling equipment and can be operated without a licence. An electric stacker has fully supported driving and lifting and can be operated in a similar way to an electric pallet truck.
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| Q. What Are the Benefits of an electric stacker?
An electric powered stacker has many benefits that cannot be had from a manual stacker. A lithium-ion stacker from EP has benefits that include:
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