1. Palletized Stacker: This stacker has front legs and is suitable for loading, unloading, and transferring goods using standard single-sided pallets or without pallets. Its main advantage is its low price.
2. Wide-Legged Stacker: This stacker has wider front legs, typically 550/680mm internally, with some models reaching 1200/1500mm. It can handle double-sided pallets (if the length of the double-sided pallet is less than the internal width, it will be limited). Its advantage is its moderate price, effectively addressing the requirements of double-sided pallets or certain special goods.
3. Counterbalance Stacker: This stacker has no front legs but adds a counterweight at the rear. The forks can be tilted forward and backward to ensure levelness after loading. Advantages: Wide applicability, similar to traditional internal combustion forklifts; Disadvantages: The overall weight and length are relatively high, requiring sufficient aisle clearance, and the price is also higher.
4. Reach Stacker: Similar in basic aspects to the counterbalance stacker, it lacks front legs but has a counterweight. The difference is that the forks and mast can move backward and forward a certain distance, typically 560mm. This allows for a shorter stacker length, alleviating some aisle requirements. The price is similar to counterbalance stackers.
5. All-Stainless Steel Stacker: Constructed entirely of stainless steel, suitable for environments with high hygiene requirements, such as food and pharmaceutical industries. The price is slightly higher.
6. Explosion-Proof Stacker: A special type of stacker requiring mandatory production licenses. Suitable for environments with high safety requirements. Expensive and technically demanding. Explosion-proof stackers have explosion-proof rating markings.
7. Side-Shift Stacker: The forks are mounted on the side for side loading and unloading operations. Primarily designed for narrow aisle situations. While often produced with side-shift attachments, the standard production method uses integrated side-shift forks. I saw a similar model at a German exhibition, priced at $1 million USD.
8. Single-pillar stacker: This type replaces the traditional gantry lifting mechanism with a single-pillar lifting mechanism, eliminating the limitation of parallel operation on both sides and ensuring a stable and uniform lifting speed. The transmission method is also typically changed from chain-driven to belt-driven, resulting in even lifting.
The above models are commonly used in the market. Of course, there are many other types of stackers, especially non-standard ones, which vary widely and will not be listed here. However, generally speaking, the most significant differences lie in the models mentioned above. Other non-standard stackers are usually based on the above models, with modifications made to suit specific needs.
