Not every engineering workshop needs a ride-on forklift. For mid-sized automotive component suppliers, machining shops or sub-assembly areas, a pedestrian stacker truck is often enough to lift pallets into racking, takes little space and is easy to assign to shop-floor staff. This article focuses on three STILL ranges, EXV, EXV-CB and EXD, in an automotive & engineering context.
Where stackers fit in an engineering workshop
Stackers excel on short routes with moderate frequency: buffer stores next to CNC cells, racks for tools and fixtures, staging areas for parts awaiting inspection, consumables stores. The operator walks with the truck, so it suits areas where the same person lifts goods and also does other work such as counting or packing.
For a refresher, what is a stacker truck explains the differences between stacker types.
STILL EXV 14 – 20: lifting parts pallets into racking
The STILL EXV 14 – 20 is a stacker for both transport within temporary storage and rack replenishment. From STILL:
- Maximum capacity 2,000 kg, maximum lift height 6,066 mm, speed 6 km/h.
- OptiSpeed tiller adjusts speed to the tiller angle and keeps a safe distance between the operator’s feet and the truck.
- Curve Speed Control slows the truck in bends and narrow aisles.
- Optional load display and Dynamic Load Control estimate the load and show the corresponding maximum lift height.
- Battery capacity up to 375 Ah and Li-Ion technology for long operating times.
With engineering goods, load display has practical value: boxes of metal parts look small but are heavy, and operators easily misjudge them.
STILL EXV-CB 06 – 16: containers that are not pallets
In automotive, components often sit in dedicated racks, mesh boxes or trays without space for the support legs of a normal stacker. The STILL EXV-CB 06 – 16 is a counterbalanced stacker with free-standing cantilever forks which, according to STILL, can lift pallets and load carriers of all kinds.
- Capacity up to 1,600 kg, lift height up to 4.2 m.
- Tilting mast for easy and safe handling of containers.
- Works with many pallet types and attachments.
- Proportional valve technology for precise lifting and lowering; optional creep speed for tight spaces.
- Optional web-based FleetManager to control who uses the truck and record impacts.
STILL EXD 18C – 20C: double-deck truck loading
Component suppliers making many small deliveries to assembly plants need fast truck loading. The STILL EXD 18C – 20C is a double stacker: it carries up to 1,000 kg on the wheel arms plus 800 to 1,000 kg on the forks, with a maximum total of 2,000 kg, a slim body and a small turning radius. The mono mast of the EXD 18C gives a clear view of forks and load.
Stacker selection by process step
| Step | Type / model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer store beside machines, fixture racks | STILL EXV 14 – 20 | Lifts to 6,066 mm, optional load display |
| Dedicated component racks, mesh boxes | STILL EXV-CB 06 – 16 | Cantilever forks, tilting mast, attachments |
| Receiving and shipping parts by small truck | STILL EXD 18C – 20C | Double-deck, up to 2,000 kg in total |
| Staging for parts awaiting inspection | STILL EXV 14 – 20, EXV-CB | Compact, one-hand operation |
Stacker limits to keep in mind
Distance and frequency
Pedestrian stackers cannot replace ride-on trucks on long, frequent routes. When operators walk too much per shift, consider reach trucks or tow tractors for that route.
Floor
Stacker wheels are small and sensitive to drainage channels, pit covers and metal chips. Survey the route and keep floors clean.
Load and height
Residual capacity drops with height. Check each model’s load chart against the heaviest box, as described in how to read a forklift specification sheet.
Other stackers such as EXV-SF, ECV and FXV are in the stackers category. An overview of trucks for the whole chain is on the automotive & engineering forklift solutions page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stacker lift carmaker-specific component racks?
If the rack has no opening for support legs, a normal stacker struggles. The EXV-CB with free-standing cantilever forks is designed by STILL for pallets and load carriers of all kinds; test it with a real rack.
How does the EXD 18C – 20C differ from a normal stacker?
The EXD carries two levels of goods at once, one on the wheel arms and one on the forks, reducing trips when loading trucks.
Are there automated stackers for production?
Yes. STILL offers the EXV iGo, EXV-CB iGo and AXV iGo; see the automated truck article in the same solution set.
Need a stacker for buffer stores or component racks? Send a request via request a quote or call 0902 63 79 70.