Easy Steps For Choosing Between A Reach Stacker And A Dedicated Container Handler

A reach stacker or a dedicated container handler? Which machine will work better in your business? To find out which machine is best for you, you need to consider the benefits of both machines. The reach stacker enables an increased container storage, but it results in increased storage density and worse accessibility of containers. When some containers are more difficult to access, you will need extra lifts and handling, which is something that you probably want to avoid. To make the right decision, you must identify and know the specific needs of your application and consider either reach stacker or a dedicated container handler will work best.

Before you make your decision, it is vital to review both types of machines in terms of the most important attributes: accessibility, storage and maneuverability. If you consider yourself unable to make the choice, you can ask an experienced supplier for help. However, let's review both reach stacker and dedicated container handler.

Accessibility – Accessibility, or also known as selectivity, is the number of containers placed on top or in front of the container you need to access, move or restack. The main consideration is to limit or eliminated the so-called dead picks (lifts). Despite having new logistic systems for improved and more convenient stacking, dead picks can not be completely avoided. However, you can make the stacking operation more efficient by choosing a material handling equipment that provides a better accessibility. In this case, the dedicated container handler is a better option than reach stacker.

Storage – A material handling machine that provides the highest density is best for locations with limited space. To increase the storage density, you need to stack the containers as higher and deeper as possible. The dedicated container handler is able to stack up to 4 containers in height and only 1 row in deep, while the reach stacker is able to stack more containers per square meter. One proven way to speed up your handling process is to form 2 rows in a pyramid shape, 4 containers forming a second row and 3 containers the first row.

Maneuverability – Both dedicated container handler and reach stacker can operate in 15m wide aisles and stack containers of size up to 12 meters. However, some heavier and larger containers require an additional lifting capacity for stacking on higher rows. The standard reach stacker probably does not have a sufficient lifting capacity, so it needs to be specifically modified for specific requirements. To summarize, the reach stacker can increase the storage on terminal, but the dedicated container handler operates faster.