In an electronics plant, most of a component pallet’s journey is horizontal: from the store to the line, from the end of the line to packing, sometimes through a goods lift to an upper floor. An electric pallet truck for the electronics industry and the hand pallet truck handle these short legs, and they are usually the largest group in the plant’s fleet.
Horizontal transport in electronics plants
Many electronics plants are multi-storey: the ground floor holds the warehouse and dock, upper floors hold assembly. Pallets pass through goods lifts, corridors and workshop doors, so truck size and weight matter as much as capacity. Goods are light and valuable; operators are often production workers rather than professional drivers, so trucks must be easy to use and safe at low speed.
Production areas may have their own rules on static, dust and permitted wheel types. STILL’s published specifications do not state anti-static features for pallet trucks, so this requirement must be discussed during the survey.
STILL ECH 12C/15C: light truck for goods lifts and rack aisles
The manufacturer positions the STILL ECH 12C/15C as an alternative to the hand pallet truck. Operating weight is only 115 kg, capacity 1,200 or 1,500 kg, speed 4.5 km/h. The source states it works well in freight lifts, on sales floors and in rack aisles. A creep speed switch allows manoeuvring with the tiller upright, the lithium-ion battery charges from a socket via an external charger, and battery status shows on green, yellow and red LEDs. It is the best fit for feeding components to upper-floor workshops.
STILL EXH 14C and EXH 16-20: longer runs and lorry loading
The STILL EXH 14C moves up to 1,400 kg on level floors, with standard support castors, a lithium-ion battery and an integrated charger for quick top-ups. The source lists loading and production supply among its applications.
When the run between store and workshop is longer, or pallets go on and off lorries, the STILL EXH 16-20 carries up to 2,000 kg at up to 6 km/h. The OptiSpeed tiller adjusts speed to the tiller angle, useful in busy corridors. An LED or touch display on the tiller head shows truck information.
STILL HPS/HPT hand pallet trucks: support areas
Not every point needs an electric truck. In packing, quality control or packaging stores, STILL HPS/HPT hand pallet trucks are the simple option: capacities from 1,000 kg to 3,000 kg depending on the model. The HPT 10 XM/XE has a scissor lift that raises up to 1,000 kg to 800 mm according to the manufacturer, so it can serve as a lift table for packers to work at the right height.
Recommendation table: process – model – reason
| Process | Suggested model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Components to upper-floor workshops | STILL ECH 12C/15C | 115 kg weight, usable in goods lifts |
| Line feeding, short runs | STILL EXH 14C | Integrated charger, standard support castors |
| Store to workshop, long runs, lorries | STILL EXH 16-20 | Up to 2,000 kg, OptiSpeed |
| Packing, lift table | STILL HPT 10 XM/XE | Scissor lift, right working height |
| Packaging store, QC | STILL HPS | Simple, no charging |
Implementation tips
- Check the goods lift’s permitted load and floor size against the combined weight of truck, load and person.
- Set speed rules and zones for electric trucks in workshops; use creep speed near the lines.
- Group chargers in a technical area away from sensitive production.
Choosing between pedestrian, platform and seated models is covered in choosing an electric pallet truck; comparison with hand trucks in hand pallet truck vs electric pallet truck. Category: STILL electric pallet trucks. Other types: forklift solutions for electronics.
Frequently asked questions
Can an electric pallet truck use a goods lift?
The manufacturer states the ECH 12C/15C can be used in freight lifts. You still need to check the plant’s actual lift capacity and dimensions.
Can production workers use electric pallet trucks?
Yes, after training according to company rules. Pedestrian trucks run slowly and stop when the tiller is released, suiting non-professional users.
Should hand pallet trucks be replaced with electric ones?
For short distances and low frequency, hand trucks are still sensible. For long runs, heavy loads or multiple shifts, electric trucks clearly reduce physical effort.
Need to size line-feeding trucks for a multi-storey plant? Send a request on the quote page or call 0902 63 79 70.