How are stackers different from reach trucks?

Stackers and Reach trucks are integral special equipment for wholesale depots, warehouse complexes, logistics centers, production workshops. In terms of their set of functions, these devices are not inferior to a loader, but they are lighter and cheaper to operate. Despite the tasks that a stacker and a reach truck perform, the difference between the two is significant. Each type has its own advantages and is suitable for specific operating conditions. So what are these types of techniques? When is it advisable to use them? How is a reach truck different from a stacker? Everything in order.

Design features and varieties of the stacker
It is a device used for stacking palletized goods on top of each other or on shelving shelves. Compact technology performs well in confined spaces. Depending on the type of drive, the following types of special equipment are distinguished:

mechanical hand models. They are mainly used in warehouses, where stacking of cargo and lifting of pallets onto the upper shelving shelves (maximum 3 m) need to be performed infrequently;
electro-hydraulic models. This is a universal special equipment capable of lifting palletized goods to a height of 6 m;
self-propelled equipment with electro-hydraulic drive. Its advantage is high productivity. This warehouse equipment lifts loads to a height of 6 m, weighing up to 3.5 tons. The speed of movement in the warehouse is 8 km / h. The battery charge is enough for the special equipment to work up to 10 hours.
The device is used in warehouse conditions, where there is a high density of shelving structures.

What is a reach truck and when is it best to use it
This is a special equipment for a warehouse, equipped with a retractable forklift. Due to this design feature, it allows you to lift palletized goods to a height of 12 m. When using technology, you need to understand that the higher the work is done, the less the load should weigh. To expand the functionality of the reach truck, it can be equipped with additional equipment:

tilted mast;
telescopic forks;
other devices.
Reach truck can be efficiently used in confined spaces - in narrow aisles (width from 1.6 m) between racks.

Instead of a summary: comparison of warehouse equipment by the main parameters

When deciding which device is better, you need to pay attention to performance.

Comparison of warehouse equipment by the main parameters:

type of construction. The stacker has a fixed mast of a stationary type, the forks or carriage move exclusively down or up. Reach truck is considered to be a more technologically advanced device, since it is equipped with a retractable forklift;
lifting height of palletized goods. The stacker lifts the load onto the upper shelves, which are at a height of 1.5 to 6 m. The reach truck has more options. It lifts palletized materials up to 12 m;
productivity, speed of work, accuracy of stacking palletized materials on the upper shelves of rack structures. Reach truck outperforms the stacker by this indicator - 12 km / h versus 8 km / h. Due to the presence of a movable mast and good maneuverability, the equipment effectively copes with loading and unloading operations;
maximum lifting capacity. Reach truck - up to 2.5 tons, stacker - up to 3.5 tons.
These are the main criteria for choosing equipment.

Important! In order for the warehouse equipment to have the characteristics that allow it to comfortably and efficiently perform the assigned tasks, it must be equipped with high-quality and wear-resistant wheels that ensure the stability of the structure and have an increased margin of safety. The catalog https://www.fregat.com.ua/katalog/ presents a wide range of rollers for equipment of various types and purposes.

And the last, but not least, selection criterion is the price. The stacker is cheaper because it has a simpler structure and easy repairs. As for the reach truck, this is a more technological equipment, the price of which is justified by its increased productivity. What technique should you give preference to? The choice of special equipment is carried out based on the operating conditions, you need to build on the needs of the enterprise, take into account the financial capabilities of its owner.