What Is a Walkie Stacker?

A walkie stacker is a small material handling machine that helps your staff move and lift items. These machines require little investment and are easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

Compared to a ride-on forklift, a walkie stacker is more efficient and better suited for narrow aisle warehouse environments. Various types of walkie stackers are available for different applications and environments.

What is a Walkie Stacker?

When a forklift isn’t required, a walkie stacker can be an effective option to lift pallets. A walkie stacker is a walking-behind pallet truck that can either be manually or power-operated and is able to transport, electric hoist lift and place a load onto a pallet for storage.

They are ideal for small capacity items transported around a warehouse or any premises for less than five hours per day and can be used on flat concrete floors. Due to their small wheels, they are more suited for indoor use; however, bigger wheels can be ordered from the factory to suit specific requirements.

There are a variety of different types of walkie stackers, each suited to specific applications and environments. For example, a straddle walkie stacker uses straddle legs to assign load weight and allows the walkie stacker to move close to a pallet for transport and stacking. These stackers are best for narrow aisles and congested areas that don’t have the space for a conventional sit down forklift.

Alternatively, a counterbalance walkie stacker forklift uses counter-balance weight to distribute loads. They are able to lift standard pallets but require a wider space than other types of walkie stackers, as the legs sit below the forks. However, they can be more maneuverable, as a typical ride-on forklift may take up to twelve feet to make a right angle turn, while a walkie stacker can do this in seven or eight feet.

Manual vs. Electric Powered

Unlike traditional forklifts that are a lot bigger in size and operate at higher speeds, walkie stackers can maneuver through narrow aisles with ease. In addition, they offer a more comfortable and ergonomic working position for the operator.

They are best suited for transporting & lifting palletized items to and from storage locations. They are often used in store rooms, small warehouses and specialised warehousing sections or as a backup for larger forklifts. Generally speaking, these types of vehicles are best operated indoors on flat concrete floors.

There are several different types of walkie stackers, each suited to a specific application. The key differences are how they distribute the load and their turning radius. Standard walkie stackers have front legs that straddle the pallet and allow them to lift two loads at once. This style has the smallest turning radius of all walkie stackers and a maximum lifting height of 2,565mm to 5,817mm depending on model.

Electric walkie stackers are powered by rechargeable batteries and use a traction drive system that helps to take the strain off the operator. This type of equipment has lower upfront costs compared to diesel or LPG forklifts and also requires less maintenance. In addition, battery electric equipment produces lesser carbon emissions and uses a much smaller fuel tank. Operators don’t need a forklift license to operate these trucks but they must be aware of all the controls, safety procedures and gain permission from their company to use them.

Types of Walkie Stackers

There are a variety of walkie stackers on the market, each offering different load capacities and maneuverability. Some are powered by gas and offer greater load lifting capabilities, while others are electric-powered and require little or no maintenance. They are smaller and more maneuverable than forklifts and can lift heavy loads in tight spaces.

A standard walkie stacker has straddle legs that help distribute load weight evenly and allow it to move around pallets. It is used for low- to mid-level selective racking in store rooms and small warehouses. There are also walkie reach stackers that use a pantographic scissor mast that is designed to move loads forward, unlike a straddle stacker. These are used to load trailers, trucks and utility vehicles as well as for general mid-level racking.

Other walkie stackers include counter-balanced models that are balanced by a chassis and have a lower center of gravity for better stability. These are useful in applications with narrow aisles and small spaces where space is at a premium.

A ride-on walkie stacker is similar to a standard walkie stacker, except it has a platform that allows an operator to stand on top of it while using it. Like other lift trucks, ride-on walkie stackers are used to transport heavy loads throughout a warehouse storage facility. They are more expensive than standard walkie stackers and require an operator to have a forklift license to operate. However, they typically have much lower operating costs than diesel and LPG/petrol-powered forklifts because they consume less energy and produce fewer carbon emissions.

Safety

Walkie stackers are a safe and effective option for transporting, stacking, and storing pallets of material. Unlike ride-on forklifts, which are much heavier and can have obstructed sightlines, these smaller machines are perfect for navigating tight spaces and narrow aisles. They can even operate in areas that are occupied by people, such as production rooms or packing stations.

Most often, walkie stackers are used for picking and transporting products over short distances. They are also great for transferring items to and from high shelves in warehouses. These compact Electric Hoist Manufacturer machines can lift up to a maximum of two pallets at once and have the smallest turning radius of any walk-behind stacker.

Powered walkie stackers are a popular choice for small warehouses and storerooms as they can help reduce labor costs. They are a cost-effective alternative to forklifts and require little maintenance and running costs.

A typical electric-powered walkie stacker can travel up to 15 feet in an aisle before needing a recharge. In addition, they are quiet machines that are a safer choice than a traditional forklift. They are also environmentally friendly and emit less polluted air than other materials handling vehicles.