Narrow aisle forklifts and very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks

What is a narrow aisle forklift?

A narrow aisle forklift is a truck designed to work between closely spaced racks, where a counterbalance forklift has no room to turn. At the narrowest end are very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks: the truck travels straight down the aisle while a rotating turret head or a telescopic fork reaches out to either side to store and retrieve pallets. Because the chassis never has to turn in front of the rack, the aisle only needs to be slightly wider than the truck, and the floor space saved goes to racking.

The biggest benefit of a narrow aisle forklift is storage density. When the building footprint is fixed, capacity grows by building higher and narrowing the aisles, while every pallet stays directly accessible, unlike deep-lane storage that must be emptied in sequence.

Comparing STILL narrow aisle forklifts

This category currently includes two ranges: STILL MX-X and STILL NXV. The table below summarises the figures from the manufacturer's model table.

Model	Operating type	Max. load capacity	Max. lift height	Travel speed	Battery voltage
STILL MX-X	Man-up, cabin rises with the operator	1,500 kg	18,110 mm	14 km/h	48 V or 80 V, lead-acid or Li-Ion
STILL MX-X iGo	Automated version	1,400 kg	14,000 mm	Depends on configuration	Depends on configuration
STILL NXV	Compact chassis, turret head or telescopic fork	1,500 kg	To be confirmed per mast configuration	10.5 km/h	48 V

The NXV lift height depends on the combination of main and auxiliary lift; please contact us for the specification sheet matching your configuration before designing the racking.

STILL MX-X: for very high warehouses with high throughput

The MX-X is a man-up truck: the cabin rises with the forks, so the operator works directly in front of the rack location and can store full pallets as well as pick individual items at height. Truck dimensions, cabin version and performance packages are configured for each warehouse. ALS (Active Load Stabilisation) limits mast sway at height, and AFC compensates for uneven floors even at high travel speeds.

STILL NXV: compact for smaller warehouses and heavy loads

The NXV is aimed at warehouses with limited floor space but high racking. There are two load handling options: a turret head that can pick from three sides and unload onto conveyors, or a telescopic fork that extends to the left and right when aisles are especially tight. The Joystick 4Plus controls lifting, shifting, turret rotation and travel direction with one hand. An optional cross line laser and fork camera help place pallets precisely from the cabin.

When to choose a very narrow aisle truck, and when a reach truck?

Not every warehouse with narrower aisles needs a VNA truck. A detailed look at when to invest and how to choose between the two STILL ranges is in our VNA forklift guide. In short, this type of truck is worth considering when:

• The building is high, and expanding the floor area is difficult or costly, so more pallet locations are needed on the same footprint.
• There are many SKUs and every pallet must be directly accessible rather than handled layer by layer.
• The racking area is separate from goods-in and goods-out, with a pallet transfer point at the aisle entrance.
• The floor is flat enough, or a floor survey and treatment can be done before the racking is installed.

If the warehouse is only moderately high, the aisles do not need to be that narrow and the truck must also drive to staging areas, a reach truck is usually the more flexible narrow-aisle option. A comparison of aisle categories and matching truck types is in our article on warehouse aisle width and forklift selection.

Preparing the warehouse and safety for narrow aisle forklifts

A VNA truck only delivers its full value when the truck, racking and floor are designed together. Aisle width, beam levels, safety clearances and guidance type (rail or floor wire) should be fixed from the exact model's specification sheet, in parallel with the design of the racking systems.

Visibility in narrow aisles is limited, so safety systems are a key part of configuring a narrow aisle forklift. Both ranges can be fitted with iGo pilot safety (automatic speed adjustment, height limitation, aisle departure assistant) and STILL SafetyLight 4plus, which projects blue light spots about 5 m in front of and behind the truck. The MX-X also offers PPS, using scanners to detect people in the aisle, and the VNA Predictive Braking System, which recognises static obstacles from up to 8 metres away.

iGo pilot navigation takes the truck to the correct rack location and connects to the WMS, a good basis if the business plans warehouse automation at a later stage, for example with the MX-X iGo.

Frequently asked questions

Can a narrow aisle forklift work outdoors or load trucks?

These trucks are optimised for indoor racking aisles. Receiving goods from lorries and bringing pallets to the aisle entrance is better handled by a counterbalance forklift or an electric pallet truck.

Should I choose the MX-X or the NXV?

The MX-X fits very high, high-throughput warehouses where the operator needs to go up to pick individual items. The NXV fits smaller warehouses handling mainly full pallets. Base the decision on the floor plan, building height and actual pallet weights.

Does a narrow aisle forklift require a new floor?

It depends on the floor survey. At height, a slight floor deviation tilts the mast. AFC on the MX-X reduces the effect of uneven floors, but each site still needs an on-site assessment.

Lead-acid or lithium-ion battery?

The MX-X runs on lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries, 48 V or 80 V, suitable for multi-shift work. The NXV has a lithium-ion version with opportunity charging between shifts. Choose the battery type by shift pattern and the site's charging infrastructure.