Electric Pallet Stackers

If you would like an electric pallet stacker with…

• Extra-long and offset tiller for enhanced operator safety and comfort
• Robust beam structure for durability and reliability
• Emergency switch and safety protection for secure operations
• Auto-reverse belly button to prevent accidents
• High manoeuvrability in narrow aisles
• Lifting height of up to 3.6 meters for high stacking
• Integrated charger for convenient and efficient power management

EP is your go-to provider. Our electric pallet stacker provides all the above features for guaranteed safety and optimal performance in various settings, as shown in the featured video below.

Keep reading to discover more of EP’s electric pallet stackers collection.

What Is an Electric Stacker and What Is It For?

Electric pallet stackers are the ultimate entry level material handling equipment for transporting, lifting, and loading pallets.

While 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 the stacking and racking of pallets. An electric stacker has powered lifting and driving and can transport goods at ground level, it can also lift vertically to allow for maximised storage space on warehouse racking.

Electric Stacker in Warehouses

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 are 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.

Advantages of Electric Pallet Stackers

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

In addition, 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 is operator 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.

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.

Choose the right Electric Powered Pallet Stacker

When looking for an electric stacker there are a few questions to consider, to ensure the model can meet the handling requirements of your business:

Drive type

When looking at the drive type of an electric stacker, it is important to consider the The two industry drive types are centralised and decentralised.

Centralised

Certain powered stacker models feature a centrally located drive wheel on the truck. Four additional points of ground contact are created by including support wheels at each corner. This type of drive is effective, however, the traction on the drive wheel is also increased. This means the truck can perform well on uneven ground and ramps, however, more reliance on the support wheels creates a less stable drive. As a result, the stability of the truck can be compromised.

Centralized drive types work well for electric pallet trucks where traction is key and lifting heights are low. However, stability of the stackers is more important than traction – so to ensure 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, the force is focused towards the drive wheel side, ensuring a more balanced and stable chassis, as opposed to the four-point support in centralized systems.

The biggest benefits of having a decentralised drive type are increased stability and 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 racks, that cannot be reached by a pallet truck.

There are 4 main mast types to consider:

1. 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

• Limited lifting heights, lifting carriage is limited to the mast’s maximum height, no further extension is allowed.

2. 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

• Limited lifting heights

3. 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.

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
• 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

Disadvantages

• For some applications, a higher free lift may be needed

4. 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:

ES WA Series

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.

Additional features

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 the stacker to gain higher ground clearance and be used on ramps and un-even grounds.

Inconclusion, the feature of initial lift increase the ground clearance, meaning the stacker has increased usability.

Double stacking

This feature increases operational efficiency by enabling the handling of multiple pallets in a single lift, thereby maximizing storage space and reducing the number of lifting cycles required. Additionally, it can lead to time savings and improved productivity in material handling processes.

Lift Height

The lifting mast allows 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 the storage environment.

When deciding on an electric stacker model, you should determine the maximum lift height you require and factor this into your decision.

The mast height, maximum lift height and free lift height for EP Electric stackers can be found on the data sheets in our resource hub.

Proportional Lifting

This feature enhances safety and efficiency by providing operators with more control over the lifting process, making it easier to accurately place or retrieve loads, particularly in tight or sensitive environments.

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.

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

Battery Size and Type

At EP, our innovative power stackers are equipped with one of the following 3 battery types:

Gel (AGM) Battery

Gel 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 Battery

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 Battery

Lithium-ion is possibly the most efficient solution when looking for a powered pallet stacker. The zero-maintenance battery allows for opportunity charging. Furthermore, the 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

Furthermore

If you need help to find the right stacker for your business, or if you have other specific requirements, please contact the EP support team to find out more about the different specifications of our machines. We will support you to find the perfect solution for your business.

Further Resources

• The Ultimate Guide to Electric Stackers 
• Everything you need to know about walkie counterbalance stackers
• Best Small Electric Forklifts for Tight Spaces 
• EP Resource Hub