A stacker is one of the most versatile material handling equipment that always has its place in every industry. Pallet stackers can replace forklifts, pallet trucks, and order pickers. Their compact designs allow them to manoeuvre easily in any warehouse or factory environment. The biggest challenge is when choosing the right equipment for the right job. Multiple types of stackers are used for various purposes, making it necessary to choose the right one for a particular position.
Here is a breakdown of the various industries that use pallet stackers and the ideal types for each application:
1. Automotive Industries
The automotive industry uses various storage systems for small and bulky vehicle parts. Having a mix of material handling equipment is ideal for streamlining operations. Pallet stackers are specifically used to transport small to medium-sized goods to specific stations in the production line. Electric pallet stackers and counterbalance stackers ferry small palletized components for easy access to various locations within the factory.
2. Food and Beverage Industries
Forklifts are somewhat bulky for loading and unloading products in the food and beverage industries because they may lead to potential damage. Lighter equipment like a pallet stacker is ideal for transporting food items from the racks to the loading areas and vice versa. Electric stackers are perfect for loading bulky goods weighing over two tonnes, while manual stackers can move smaller SKUs.
3. Largescale Retailers
Largescale retail outlets have a higher business volume, and relying on employees to manually carry the SKUs will lead to exhaustion and a slowing business. These outlets cannot use forklifts because they consume a lot of space and are costly to maintain. Stackers offer an alternative for smooth operations and human traffic in retail stores. Hydraulic manual stackers and semi-electric stackers are preferable because they can quickly load shelves without being too noisy or damaging the floors.
4. Manufacturing Plants
Goods in a manufacturing plant go through multiple production phases before completion. Efficient storage and material handling equipment are needed to facilitate smooth processing. Electric stackers are applicable for manufacturing plants because they are flexible for carrying multiple types of products. Considering they can lift more than 2.5 tonnes, they can load and unload goods throughout the day without ramping up the operation costs.
5. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries
The chemical and pharmaceutical industries differ from others because instead of palletized items, they often transport fluids in drums. These drums are challenging to transport using forked equipment. Given the numerous types of stackers to choose from, these two industries majorly benefit from drum handlers. Although the operation of this equipment is manual, it uses fatigue-free lifting mechanisms to prevent operator exhaustion. They are lightweight and easily manoeuvrable for the smooth loading of drums on storage units and trucks.
6. Construction Industry
Electric stackers are among the preferable machines for building equipment in the construction industry. The compact design of the stacker allows better entry and exit in smaller and indoor spaces. Operators can complete projects quickly by streamlining the delivery of building materials. These machines can act as additional equipment to take over duties where forklifts cannot fit.
7. Shipping Industries
Shipping yards store thousands of heavy containers carrying all products and materials. While forklifts are used to move these containers around the shipping yard or port, more equipment is needed for sorting the equipment. Pallet stackers help finish this work started by forklifts. These stackers primarily work in moving palletized items from the receiving areas and organizing them in storage racks and shelves for easy retrieval when moving stock. This equipment also minimizes product damage when loading and unloading items.
8. Warehouse and Distribution Centres
Warehouses and distribution centres can only sustain their daily operations with the necessary equipment. With equipment like stackers, products will reach customers rapidly as intended. Stackers are lightweight and can easily manoeuvre tight warehouse spaces. The swift movement of these machines allows quick movement of SKUs to loading areas. For distribution centres using smaller racks, it is needless having heavy equipment like forklifts and reaches trucks. Electric and semi-electric stackers can easily reach heights up to 5 meters, allowing for quickly retrieving items in storage.
9. Steel Manufacturing Industries
Steel manufacturing industries pose numerous occupational hazards for employees. They can trip on steel objects and sustain life-altering injuries. Using material handling equipment is a preventive measure besides streamlining operations. Stackers can efficiently transport steel parts and materials from one area of the plant to the other. They also work for transporting goods through the production process and loading them onto awaiting trucks for rapid delivery.
Every application has a pallet stacker, so finding them in environments outside the warehouse is common. Material handling equipment manufacturers build these machines with strong metals and innovative controls even for rough terrains. They are also easy to adopt for operations because they require less operator training than forklifts and other equipment. Equipment suppliers offer consultation to help businesses find a suitable stacker for their industry.
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