Management is everything when running a warehouse. You might have the best of the best in terms of products, yet unless you have adopted the proper management system, you can’t count on much success. Mind you, this doesn’t only refer to specialised software, but also to the equipment you buy, most importantly that of material handling.
The Popularity of Electric Stackers
Perhaps you find it more essential to rather invest in something else, however the fact material handling affects efficiency and productivity which in turn affects income, makes it a priority.
With the vast variety, it may not be easy to make a choice, but one of the specialised pieces that gained popularity as of late is the electric reach stacker. Created to perform a great deal of stacking tasks, available in capacities that range from 1000kg to 1500kg, reach stackers are also winning over the forklifts because you don’t need a licence to use them.
You wouldn’t be disappointed when it comes to versatility either as there are those types of stackers, so called smart, working on infrared height sensors to adjust the height of the fork so it saves employees from bending and lifting, then there’s the electric reach stacker suitable for mobile and fixed overhead handling, and fully automatic, equipped with safety functions, perfect for use even in wet conditions.
Apart from the advantage of no necessity for licence, other key advantages that certainly help with choosing these stackers are minimum maintenance costs, their design makes it easy to operate them without the worry of obstructed visibility or pollution in closed spaces, and of course they save employees the hard work which translates into more work done in less time. Safety and efficiency is what it’s all about.
Brace Yourselves for More Stackers
If you thought picking from these three was confusing enough, you’d have to be aware there are at least other four types to add to the list. One of the most common types of stackers in Australia, apart from the electric reach stacker, is the walkie straddle stacker. Thanks to the design, the driver can come close to the pallets, not having to worry about space.
The next type, not that different from the straddle, is the wide on stacker but unlike the ones previously mentioned, it requires a forklift licence because of the way it’s operated through the platform where the operator rides. When it comes to narrow aisles, there’s the counter-balance stacker but due to the mechanism it operates turning a bigger circle as opposed to the standard stacker with the smallest turning circle.
When it comes to older, manual operated stackers there are immediate disadvantages starting from the slow operation, requirement of effort, and the limited lifting heights that don’t make them the best choice for pallet racking.
Essential Considerations
First things first, to be sure you spend your money on quality material handling equipment you have to find a reliable retailer or store. The years of experience, the variety of products, brands, and convenience of prices offered are good indicators to be looked into.
Then again, it’s about getting to know material handling equipment better so you can make the right choice for your warehouse needs while thinking long-term. This means considering aspects related to the materials that would be handled, such as whether or not they are fragile, how they are packed, the frequency of their moving, and whether or not they are chemicals.
There’s also the consideration of stored as opposed to processed goods, and in addition the location where these goods are stored: there are options like shelving, pallets, and racks for instance, so perhaps you would need other pieces of equipment along with the stackers.
Properties such as height and width, related to the space available in the warehouse for stackers, or in other words the storage area, plus the floor conditions, are decisive and mustn’t be left out either.
As mentioned prior, the maintenance of this sort of equipment can help you with the purchase also, not merely the initial costs but the costs to follow too in case of repairs and replacements, and thanks to the low costs of stackers it’s not difficult to see why they make a popular choice.
Before you make the purchase, you have to remember safety is mandatory. What this means is your staff has to have the adequate safety training, and get instructed on how to operate and maintain the stackers, so you’d comply with the OSHA standards. This wouldn’t simply create a safe working environment, since it would also result in more productivity.
Thinking in the long run, it doesn’t hurt to consider the proper insurance cover, and with the many different offers, you would find just the protection your warehouse requires, be it coverage for your goods, storage area, or the equipment. Nothing like good vision to make running a warehouse the story of success.