Plastic products share one trait: they are light but take up a lot of space – boxes of caps, empty containers, trays, film rolls, pipes and profiles. Finished-goods stores fill up quickly across the floor, and a reach truck for the plastics warehouse is the way to store goods high while keeping aisles narrow. This article focuses on finished-goods and long-goods stores in plastics and rubber plants.
The finished-goods challenge in a plastics plant
A moulding machine running continuously can produce a great many pallets of cartons every day, while each pallet weighs little. Floor space, not capacity, becomes the main limit. The usual answer is multi-level pallet racking with narrow aisles, and the most suitable truck is a reach truck: the mast reaches out to pick up loads while the compact chassis turns within the aisle.
In plants making plastic pipes, window profiles, cable trunking or rubber hoses, long goods are a specific challenge. Ordinary trucks have to carry long goods sideways in wide aisles; without the right truck, the store must give up a lot of space for turning.
Plastics plants also hold semi-finished goods waiting for printing, assembly or inspection. These locations change constantly with orders, so the truck must place and retrieve pallets accurately and quickly at height.
STILL reach truck models by type of store
STILL FM-X: high racking, multiple shifts
The FM-X stacks up to 14 metres and has active load stabilisation: an automatic counter-pulse damps mast oscillation at height, reducing waiting time at the rack by up to 80 percent according to STILL. In a finished-goods store driven by machine output, the time saved on each put-away adds up. The lithium-ion battery allows interim charging between shifts. STILL’s exclusive mast sideshift aligns pallets without moving the whole truck.
STILL FXR 14C-18C: small and medium stores
The compact FXR 14C, 16C and 18C store goods at heights of up to eleven metres, positioned by STILL for one- or two-shift operation and medium loads. Curve Speed Control and speed limitation in main lift are standard, useful for less experienced drivers. The integrated lithium-ion battery has quick-charge access. It is a sensible choice for a mid-size moulding plant with moderately high racking.
STILL FM-4W: PVC pipes, profiles and long goods
The FM-4W is a four-way reach truck travelling forwards, backwards and sideways, so it is especially suited to long goods as well as ordinary pallets. It lifts a total load of 2,500 kg and, thanks to high residual capacity, can lift 1,000 kg to 9.5 m. The integrated weight and height display and optional lift height preselection help place bundles of pipe on cantilever or pallet racking more accurately.
STILL FM-X SE: outdoor racking
If the plant keeps some goods, such as large pipes or raw material pallets, under an outdoor canopy, the seated FM-X SE with super-elastic tyres and high ground clearance moves loads up to two tonnes, lifts up to eight metres, and can charge 50% of its battery in 30 minutes.
| Step | Type / model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| High-bay finished goods, multiple shifts | STILL FM-X | Up to 14 m, active load stabilisation |
| Mid-size finished goods, one or two shifts | STILL FXR 14C-18C | Compact, standard safety, quick charging |
| Long PVC pipes, profiles, rubber hoses | STILL FM-4W | Four-way travel, designed for long goods |
| Racking under an outdoor canopy | STILL FM-X SE | Super-elastic tyres, high ground clearance |
Designing the store for reach trucks
- Empty plastic boxes are light but tall: check that pallet height plus placement height stays within the lift capacity and the driver’s view.
- Stretch wrap must be secure; light pallets shift easily when the truck accelerates.
- The floor must be level for safe operation at height; see what is a reach truck and warehouse aisle width.
Full range: STILL reach trucks. Other truck types for the industry are on the forklift solutions for plastics & rubber page.
Frequently asked questions
Plastic goods are light – do I need a high-capacity reach truck?
Usually not. With light plastic boxes, rack height and aisle width decide; an FXR 14C-18C or a lower-capacity FM-X is often enough. Check residual capacity at maximum height on the load chart.
FM-4W or counterbalance truck for a PVC pipe store?
If pipes are stored on racking in narrow aisles, the FM-4W travels sideways and saves space. If pipes lie on the floor in a wide yard, a counterbalance truck may be enough.
Can reach trucks work three shifts?
The FM-X is designed for demanding applications, with a lithium-ion battery that allows interim charging. The FXR 14C-18C suits one or two shifts.
Send your store layout or load dimensions via our quote page, or call 0902 63 79 70 for a reach truck recommendation.