Between the main warehouse and the assembly line, many electronics plants keep a small racked area holding components for a few shifts. This is where a stacker truck for the electronics industry fits: a compact pedestrian truck that lifts pallets or component bins onto a few rack levels without a dedicated driver.
Which areas of an electronics plant need a stacker?
- Line-side supermarket: low racks holding components for SMT, assembly and packing lines.
- Packaging area: cartons, foam trays and moisture barrier bags stored on racks for the packing area.
- Warranty and sample stores: small volumes at low frequency, not worth a reach truck.
- Machine maintenance: lifting fixtures, tooling and spare parts onto racks.
Containers in electronics vary: wooden pallets, plastic pallets, lidded plastic bins, roll cages and reel racks. Not all have openings for a standard stacker’s wheel arms, so choosing the right fork concept is the most important step.
STILL EXV-CB 06-16: when the container is not a standard pallet
The STILL EXV-CB 06-16 is a stacker with cantilever (self-supporting) forks and no front wheel arms. According to the manufacturer, the self-supporting forks lift even closed-bottom containers easily, the forks adjust to different pallets, and the tilting mast handles containers safely. Capacity is up to 1,600 kg and lift height up to 4.2 m.
Proportional valve technology gives precise lifting and lowering right to the fork tips, useful when placing component bins close together. The OptiSpeed tiller adjusts speed to the tiller angle, and Curve Speed Control slows the truck in bends. Up to two additional hydraulic functions can be added for attachments.
STILL EXV 10C-16C: standard pallets, narrow aisles
For satellite stores using standard pallets, the STILL EXV 10C-16C lifts 1,000 to 1,600 kg to a maximum of 4,686 or 5,466 mm depending on the model. The optional initial lift compensates uneven floors, useful at the transition between warehouse and production. With extended wheel arms it can carry two pallets at once. A large LED display on the tiller head shows the truck’s information.
STILL ECV 10: light, occasional lifting
Sample stores, warranty stores and maintenance rooms often only lift light loads a few times a day. The STILL ECV 10 lifts 1,000 kg to 3,227 mm, uses two 12 V batteries with 125 ampere hours and has an integrated charger for any standard socket. An LED display shows charge status and operating hours.
Recommendation table: process – model – reason
| Process | Suggested model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Component racks with closed-bottom bins, roll cages | STILL EXV-CB 06-16 | Self-supporting forks, tilting mast |
| Satellite store with standard pallets | STILL EXV 10C-16C | Two pallets, initial lift |
| Sample and warranty stores | STILL ECV 10 | Standard-socket charging, low frequency |
| Maintenance, fixtures | STILL EXV-CB 06-16 | Two additional hydraulic functions |
Operating stackers near production
- Separate pedestrian truck routes from line workers’ walkways.
- If the truck crosses into an electrostatic protected area, agree internal rules; STILL’s published specifications do not state anti-static features, so discuss this during the survey.
- Mark maximum loads per rack level, as residual capacity drops with height.
See also what is a stacker truck, the STILL stackers category and forklift solutions for electronics.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stacker lift plastic component bins without a pallet?
Stackers with wheel arms usually need pallets with openings. For closed-bottom containers, a cantilever model such as the EXV-CB 06-16 is the better choice.
Does a small satellite store need a stacker or just a hand pallet truck?
If loads go above the first rack level, a stacker is needed. For floor-level moves only, an electric pallet truck or hand pallet truck is enough.
Do stacker operators need certification?
Operators must be trained according to current regulations and the plant’s safety rules. xenangstill.com offers operator training.
Need a stacker for a line-side store? Send a request on the quote page or call 0902 63 79 70.