Many assembly plants do not send whole pallets of components to the line; they assemble sets per vehicle or per station, a process known as kitting. After-sales parts stores work similarly: each order holds a few parts picked from many locations. STILL OPX, OPX-L, OPX iGo neo and EK-X order pickers are designed for exactly this work in automotive & engineering.
How automotive picking differs from retail
Picked items are technical parts: bolts, sensors, wiring harnesses, brake pads, small castings. Many are heavy for their size, so load on the truck builds up quickly with each pick. One wrong part can stop an assembly station, so accuracy matters as much as speed. Containers are usually standard plastic totes or model-specific trays.
For an overview of low-level and high-level picking, see the order picker guide.
STILL OPX 20 – 25: low-level picking with high capacity
In its product documentation, STILL names the automotive industry directly when introducing the STILL OPX 20 – 25: whether retail, automotive or food, this low-level order picker with a capacity of up to 2.5 tonnes is an all-rounder. Points that suit kitting:
- Speed of 12 km/h, height-adjustable STILL Easy Drive steering wheel with integrated display, steering and lifting without changing grip.
- Optional elevating operator platform to a picking height of 2.80 m.
- Battery capacity up to 620 Ah; Li-Ion versions charge during breaks for 24-hour availability.
- Curve Speed Control and Dynamic Drive Control for safer cornering.
STILL OPX iGo neo: a truck that follows the picker
The STILL OPX 20 – 25 iGo neo is the autonomous assisted version. It drives, steers, accelerates and brakes on its own, following the operator. According to STILL, it eliminates up to 75% of getting on and off during picking and recognises the operator with hybrid tracking, even in Z-picking. In kitting zones with racks on both sides, pickers focus on checking part numbers instead of driving.
STILL OPX-L 12 and EK-X: heavy parts and high racking
The STILL OPX-L 12 has a lifting mast that raises picked goods with a total weight of up to 1,200 kg to a maximum working height of 786 mm, so pickers need not bend when placing heavy parts. Its compact size suits narrow aisles.
For multi-level parts stores, the STILL EK-X is a high-level order picker: it lifts loads up to 1,000 kg to a height of 6.3 metres, and tilting side barriers shorten the distance to the rack.
Order picker selection by process step
| Step | Type / model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Kitting component sets for the line | STILL OPX 20 – 25 | STILL names automotive use; up to 2.5 tonnes |
| Kitting zones with many consecutive stops | STILL OPX 20 – 25 iGo neo | Up to 75% fewer get-ons and get-offs |
| Picking heavy parts at raised working height | STILL OPX-L 12 | Lifts to 786 mm, up to 1,200 kg |
| After-sales parts store with high racking | STILL EK-X | Picking at heights up to 6.3 m |
Organising an efficient picking area
Slotting by frequency
Fast-moving parts belong on low levels near the aisle entry; heavy parts at waist height. This cuts walking distance and strain for pickers.
Standardised containers
Uniform trays and totes keep kits stable on the truck and easy to check against the pick list.
Operator management
Many OPX models support FleetManager 4.x for operator management, impact detection and access control. Fleet management enables central monitoring.
The order pickers category lists every model. Other trucks for the same chain are on automotive & engineering solutions.
Frequently asked questions
Can the OPX carry kitting carts instead of pallets?
That depends on the cart design and the forks. Test with the real container; STILL offers many configuration options for the OPX.
Does the OPX iGo neo drive around the whole plant on its own?
No. It assists pickers by following the operator; for safety, it only crosses intersections automatically after the operator approves.
When is a high-level order picker needed?
When parts are stored on multi-level racking and orders consist of single items, as in after-sales parts stores. The EK-X picks at heights up to 6.3 m.
Need to design a kitting area or parts store with the right order picker? Send a request via request a quote or call 0902 63 79 70.