Not every plastics plant ships full pallets. Makers of household plastics, printed packaging or technical rubber often ship to dealers and industrial customers in mixed orders, each with many SKUs and a few boxes per SKU. When the SKU count reaches hundreds, picking time becomes the bottleneck at dispatch. An order picker in the plastics warehouse helps pickers move quickly between locations and pick at a comfortable height.
Where does picking happen in plastics and rubber plants?
Household plastics finished-goods store
Basins, baskets, food containers and hangers come in many colours and sizes. Dealer orders usually combine a few boxes per SKU on one mixed pallet. Pickers walk the rack aisles, picking from the floor and second levels.
Technical rubber store
Seals, gaskets, anti-vibration mounts and pre-cut rubber hoses are small items with many SKUs, boxed or bagged. They are stored on low racking and picked for automotive, engineering and appliance customers. Accuracy per SKU matters more than weight.
Mould spare parts and maintenance store
Moulding plants keep stores of mould parts, nozzles, heater bands and hydraulic components. Maintenance staff need a few items quickly from many locations, sometimes on high rack levels.
STILL models by picking style
The STILL OPX 20-25 is a low-level order picker carrying up to 2.5 tonnes at 12 km/h, with the height-adjustable STILL Easy Drive steering wheel and integrated display. The optional elevating operator platform raises the cabin to a picking height of 2.80 m and the steering wheel rises with it, so the picker can drive on to the next location without lowering. Curve Speed Control and Dynamic Drive Control improve safety when cornering.
The STILL OPX-L 12 has a mast that lifts picked goods, up to 1,200 kg in total, to a working height of up to 786 mm. The truck raises and lowers the pallet according to the load status, so the picker always places boxes at a comfortable height and bends less when stacking bulky plastic goods.
The STILL OPX iGo neo is the autonomous version: the truck follows its operator and stops at the optimal picking position, detects obstacles and adapts speed when there is congestion ahead. For safety, it only crosses intersections automatically after the operator releases it. The picker no longer climbs on and off at every location.
The STILL EK-X 10 is a high-level order picker lifting up to 1,000 kg to a height of 6.3 metres, working in both wide-aisle and narrow-aisle warehouses. The cabin has a cushioned floor and side barriers, suiting spare parts or seal stores on high racking.
| Step | Type / model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Household plastics orders for dealers | STILL OPX 20-25 | 12 km/h, optional platform to 2.80 m |
| Bulky boxes stacked at a comfortable height | STILL OPX-L 12 | Mast lifts to 786 mm |
| Long picking routes with frequent stops | STILL OPX iGo neo | Follows the picker |
| Seals, gaskets, mould parts on high racking | STILL EK-X 10 | Picking at 6.3 metres |
Layout tips for the picking store
- Keep fast movers on low levels near packing; slow movers go higher for the EK-X.
- Empty plastic goods are light but topple easily: use pallets with side guards or wrap after picking.
- Seals and gaskets need clear labels and small rack compartments to avoid mixing similar SKUs.
- See order picker guide: low-level or high-level.
Range: STILL order pickers. The forklift solutions for plastics & rubber page brings together all truck types by process step.
Frequently asked questions
Does a plastics plant shipping full pallets need order pickers?
If you only ship full pallets, a forklift or electric pallet truck is enough. Order pickers pay off when orders contain many SKUs in small quantities.
Low-level or high-level?
For picking from floor and second levels, use the OPX or OPX-L. When single items must be picked from high racking, such as spare parts or seals, the EK-X 10 takes the picker up to 6.3 metres.
Does the OPX iGo neo need warehouse infrastructure changes?
The truck uses sensors to recognise the operator, surroundings and obstacles. The exact site preparation needed should be surveyed in your warehouse.
Send your SKU list and daily order count via our quote page or call 0902 63 79 70 for order picker advice.