If you count every pallet movement in a food plant, most are short trips across the floor: from the truck into receiving, from the raw material store to the machine, from the end of the line to the dispatch dock. That is the job of the electric pallet truck in a food warehouse and the hand pallet truck, the cheapest and most compact trucks, yet the ones that run the most hours each day.
What do low-lift pallet trucks do in food and beverage?
A pallet truck only lifts the pallet a few dozen millimetres off the floor to move it; it does not stack. That keeps it light and short, able to enter truck beds, goods lifts and aisles between floor-stacked pallets. Typical stages in food and beverage include:
- Unloading trucks and containers: pulling pallets of packaging and ingredients off the truck into receiving.
- Line feeding: taking pallets of empty bottles, caps, cartons and ingredients to positions beside fillers and packers.
- Dispatch dock: moving finished pallets from staging onto delivery trucks, with peaks in the early morning.
- Chillers and packing areas: short moves in tight spaces where ride-on trucks struggle to turn.
The differences between pedestrian, platform and seated trucks are covered in choosing an electric pallet truck.
Choosing a model by distance and frequency
STILL ECH 12C/15C: replacing hand pallet trucks in small areas
The STILL ECH 12C/15C weighs just 115 kg and moves loads up to 1,200/1,500 kg over short, flat distances. STILL says it works in goods lifts and between racks; creep speed allows control with the tiller upright. Its lithium-ion battery charges at a power socket with an external charger. It suits bakeries and multi-storey processing plants with goods lifts.
STILL EXH 16-20: daily line feeding and truck work
The STILL EXH 16-20 carries up to 2,000 kg at 6 km/h and is described by STILL as moving easily on ramps, in tight spaces and even inside trucks. OptiSpeed adapts speed to the tiller angle. It is a pedestrian truck suited to line feeding and receiving.
STILL EXH-S 20-25 and EXH-SF 20-25: multi-shift dispatch docks
For longer distances and higher speed, a platform truck is the choice. The STILL EXH-S 20-25 handles up to 2,500 kg at up to 14 km/h; Smart Load Protect reduces speed automatically when initial lift is not raised or when entering a truck. The STILL EXH-SF 20-25 offers the same capacity and speed with a folding platform and an overall width of only 720 mm, narrower than a Euro pallet. According to STILL, its pneumatic platform reduces body vibration by up to 28%, and Li-ion technology allows charging in short breaks for 24-hour operation.
STILL HPS/HPT: hand pallet trucks as back-up
STILL HPS/HPT hand pallet trucks cover 1,000 kg to 3,000 kg, with a sturdy steel structure and a range of wheel options to suit the floor. Every packing area should have a hand pallet truck for very short moves without waiting for an electric truck.
Pallet truck selection table
| Stage | Type/model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-storey plants, goods lifts | STILL ECH 12C/15C | 115 kg, charges at a socket |
| Line feeding, receiving | STILL EXH 16-20 | 2,000 kg, works inside trucks |
| Dispatch dock, longer runs | STILL EXH-S 20-25 | 14 km/h, Smart Load Protect |
| Narrow aisles, multi-shift | STILL EXH-SF 20-25 | 720 mm wide, Li-ion opportunity charging |
| Very short moves in packing | STILL HPS/HPT | Hand truck, wheels matched to floor |
See the full ranges in the pallet trucks category and the hand pallet trucks category.
Points specific to food plants
- Wet floors and drainage channels: small pallet truck wheels can catch in channels and slip on wet floors. Choose wheel material for the floor and limit speed in wash areas.
- Plastic and wooden pallets: many plants use plastic pallets in clean areas and wooden pallets for dispatch; check fork length and clearance for both.
- Decentralised charging: Li-ion trucks with integrated chargers can charge in the work area, reducing trips to a charging room.
When to move from hand to electric is discussed in hand pallet truck vs electric pallet truck. Other truck groups are on the food & beverage solutions page.
Frequently asked questions
Can an electric pallet truck enter a truck bed?
Yes, provided the truck floor and dock plate can bear the load. STILL states that the EXH 16-20 works inside trucks, and the EXH-S slows automatically when entering a truck.
Pedestrian or platform truck for a busy dispatch dock?
For runs beyond a few dozen metres in continuous operation, a platform truck such as the EXH-S or EXH-SF reduces operator fatigue and moves faster.
Should we keep hand pallet trucks once we have electric ones?
Yes. HPS/HPT hand trucks handle very short moves and act as back-up when electric trucks are charging or in service.
Need to balance electric pallet trucks between dock and line? Send your layout via the quote page or call 0902 63 79 70.