Material Handling is a job that cannot be done without pallet lifters but it can be difficult to figure out which type to choose according to the situation. So here is a comprehensive guide to make your work easy.
Manual Pallet Jacks
Pallet Jacks are made up of a pair of forks and hydraulic pump. The forks are meant to slide under the pallets and the pump is meant to move them upwards, lifting the pallets with them. The manual pallet jacks are operated by a warehouse worker designated as the operator. They don’t have a motor, so the operator needs to use the pump to lift the forks and transport the pallets. Manual pallet jacks are mostly used for their excellent maneuverability, especially when it comes to tight and narrow spaces.
Electric Pallet Jacks
The Electric Pallet Jacks are powered by a motor, so the operator does not have to use a pump to lift the forks. The motor comes with a rechargeable battery that can last a shift depending upon the model of the pallet jack, usage, the load carried, and more. The operator’s work becomes relatively easy when the pallet jack is electric because the heavy-lifting is mostly done by the motor. This means that electric pallet jacks bring efficiency and ease of use with them.
Pallet Stackers
As can be understood from the name, they are used for stacking the pallets. This means they function more vertically as opposed to pallet jacks that work horizontally. Since they are meant for vertical lifting, they are able to lift the pallets at a greater height than pallet jacks. They are powered by a rechargeable battery and contain a panel with all the controls needed to maneuver the stacker and lift the pallets.
Pallet Stackers are of two types, namely Walkie and Rider Pallet Stackers. The former requires its operator to walk behind it while the latter has a platform on which the operator can stand and even sit.
Pallet Scissor Lift Tables
These can be both manual and electric, where the former is operated through a crank that can be turned by hand or a foot pump. These scissor lift tables are called that because of the scissor arms that allow the table-like platform to be lifted easily. They are not just used for the typical work of loading and unloading, but they can also be used to create workstations at a certain height for their ease and better performance.
Counterbalance Walkie Stackers
These walkie stackers are different from normal walkie stackers as they have a weight on one end for counterbalancing when the pallets are lifted. They are a type of electric stacker and are operated by walking behind them. They are an alternative to forklifts when the latter are not available or cannot be used due to lack of space for maneuverability.
Reach Forklifts
Forklifts are used for heavy-duty lifting. Reach forklifts are mainly used in cases where there is a need to stack the pallets higher up than the reach of the normal pallet attackers. They have a high load-bearing capacity and are extremely efficient.
The Bottom Line
These are some of the most commonly used material handling options. So you can Elevate Material Handling with Pallet Lifters from this list.
