Electronics plants in industrial parks are usually designed around the production lines, leaving the warehouse to fit into the remaining space. When component SKUs and finished goods volumes grow but the site cannot expand, a VNA truck for the electronics industry allows narrower aisles and taller racking.
When should an electronics warehouse consider VNA?
- The component store has very many SKUs, each needing its own location, so it needs more rack positions rather than deep racking.
- The finished goods store holds stock waiting for container schedules: large volumes on a fixed footprint.
- The company rents external storage for lack of space and wants to bring goods back near the plant.
VNA requires a coordinated investment: racking, level floors and aisle guidance. The decision should rest on a site survey, not on truck prices alone. The very narrow aisle forklift guide explains the conditions in detail.
Electronics in high-density storage
Finished electronics pallets are tall stacks of cartons, moderate in weight but valuable. At height, mast sway slows placement and raises the risk of hitting the rack. In component stores, many issues need only a few cartons rather than a full pallet, so a man-up truck that picks individual items at height is an advantage.
STILL MX-X: tall stores, pallets and piece picking
The STILL MX-X is a man-up VNA truck with travel speeds up to 14 km/h and lift heights up to 18 metres. Active load stabilisation (ALS) shortens put-away and retrieval by up to 5%, and the turret head shortens picking travel.
For component stores, the source describes multi-purpose bars and holders in the cab to secure small load carriers, and a short distance between cab and load carrier for ergonomic picking. iGo pilot positioning assistance approaches racks automatically and links to the warehouse management system (WMS) via the iGo pilot navigation interface, reducing errors. Particularly quiet travel and lift motors keep noise low. Active Floor Compensation (AFC) compensates for uneven floors.
STILL NXV: small stores, narrow aisles, pallet loads
For smaller stores handling only full pallets, the STILL NXV is the compact option. With a turret head or telescopic forks, it handles loads up to 1,500 kg at heights up to 13.8 metres. ALS increases handling performance by up to 5 percent and ensures uniform storage depth. An optional cross-line laser between the forks or a camera system helps precise positioning, useful when placing valuable pallets into tightly spaced locations. The Joystick 4Plus controls lifting, shifting and turret rotation with one hand.
Recommendation table: process – model – reason
| Process | Suggested model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Very tall finished goods store | STILL MX-X | Lifts up to 18 metres, ALS |
| Component store with piece picking at height | STILL MX-X | Man-up cab, holders for small carriers |
| Small store, full pallets | STILL NXV | Compact, up to 13.8 metres |
| Tightly spaced locations, valuable goods | STILL NXV | Cross-line laser, camera |
Preparing for a VNA investment
- Survey floor flatness and the floor’s load-bearing capacity.
- Agree the aisle guidance system and the transfer zones at aisle ends.
- Plan feeder trucks at aisle ends (counterbalance or electric pallet trucks).
- If the store sits in a static-controlled or clean area, state it during the survey; STILL’s published specifications do not state anti-static features for VNA trucks.
See the STILL very narrow aisle trucks category, warehouse aisle width and forklift selection and forklift solutions for electronics.
Frequently asked questions
Should an electronics component store choose the MX-X or NXV?
For piece picking at height in a very tall store, choose the MX-X. For a smaller store handling mainly full pallets, the NXV is more compact.
Do VNA trucks need special floors?
VNA trucks need flatter floors than a standard warehouse. The MX-X has AFC to compensate for uneven floors, but the floor still needs surveying before investment.
Can VNA trucks connect to a warehouse management system?
The source states the MX-X connects to a WMS via the iGo pilot navigation interface. The exact integration depends on your system.
Need to assess whether your store suits VNA? Send a request on the quote page or call 0902 63 79 70.