Textile and footwear businesses handle huge numbers of SKUs. A garment order splits by colour and size; a shoe order by size, style and colour. On the inbound side, each sewing line needs its own trims kit for every style. As a result, stores spend more time picking than moving full pallets. An order picker helps pickers move quickly between locations with less walking and bending. This article suggests how to use these trucks in plants and distribution centres in the sector.
When textile and footwear stores need order pickers
Picking trims kits for sewing lines
Before a style goes on the line, the trims store must gather thread, main labels, size labels, care labels, zips, buttons and poly bags. For shoes it is soles, linings, laces, adhesives and boxes. Each kit has many SKUs from many rack locations in small quantities. Walking with a hand trolley makes kitting slow and error-prone.
Picking finished goods by size and colour
Plants serving the domestic market or running distribution stores for brands often split large lots into small store orders. Cartons are picked from racking, consolidated on pallets per order and labelled for dispatch.
Replenishing pick faces
When low-level pick locations run empty, pallets or boxes must come down from higher levels. This is where high-level order pickers help.
Suitable STILL order pickers
The STILL OPX 20 – 25 is a horizontal order picker with a load capacity of up to 2.5 tonnes, a speed of 12 km/h and the height-adjustable STILL Easy Drive steering wheel with integrated display. The optional raisable driver’s station lifts the cabin to a picking height of 2.80 m, and the driver can still manoeuvre at that level to the next location. Battery capacities reach 620 Ah, and Li-Ion versions are available. It suits carton picking in large finished-goods stores.
The STILL OPX-L 12 has a mast that lifts picked goods with a total weight of up to 1,200 kg to a working height of up to 786 mm. It raises and lowers the pallet according to the loading condition, so pickers always place goods at a comfortable height with less bending – valuable in trims stores where small items are picked all shift.
The STILL EK-X 10 is a vertical order picker lifting up to 1,000 kg to 6.3 metres, working in both wide and narrow-aisle warehouses. Tilting side barriers reduce the distance between picker and rack. It suits high-rack trims stores with many small boxes picked individually.
The STILL OPX iGo neo is an autonomous horizontal order picker that detects its operator and follows. According to STILL, up to 75% of time-consuming getting on and off is eliminated – worth considering for fashion distribution centres with long pick routes.
Guide table: stage – model – reason
| Stage | STILL model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Picking finished cartons | OPX 20 – 25 | High capacity, high speed, optional raisable station |
| Trims kitting for sewing lines | OPX-L 12 | Lifts pallet to hand height, less bending |
| Picking trims boxes from high racks | EK-X 10 | Operator rises with the cab |
| Long pick routes in DCs | OPX iGo neo | Truck follows the picker |
Organising stores for efficient picking
- Slot by frequency: fast-moving trims (common threads and labels) belong on low levels near the main aisle.
- Separate pick and reserve zones: keeps high-level and low-level trucks out of each other’s way.
- Prevent size and colour errors: scan barcodes while picking; scanner holders may be fitted, so ask about the specific configuration.
- Safe traffic: pickers walk a lot, so see our warehouse safety solutions.
Read order pickers: low-level or high-level, browse the order picker range, or return to the textile & footwear solutions page.
Frequently asked questions
Does an export garment plant shipping full containers need order pickers?
Finished-goods stores shipping full lots usually need few. But trims stores feeding the lines pick every day, so low-level trucks such as the OPX-L remain useful.
Low-level or high-level order picker?
If most picks are on the first one or two rack levels, choose low-level. If pick faces are high, a vertical picker like the EK-X lets the operator rise with the goods.
Can order pickers be linked to a warehouse management system?
Integration is possible depending on existing systems. See our warehouse automation solutions and request a specific assessment.
Is picking slow in your trims or finished-goods store? Send a quote request with SKU count, order lines per shift and a store layout, or call our hotline 0902 63 79 70.