An order picker or stock picker machinery is really similar to a regular forklift. It has hydraulic blades able to raise a pallet. Order pickers could also lift the operator up to high places, which is a feature that forklifts currently do not offer. Usually, order pickers are operated by electricity. These machinery are mainly utilized in a warehouse environment. Most often they are used for transporting pallets and finishing certain jobs in the shelving and stocking department.
The order picker operator utilizes controls to control the unit from a platform setting which normally sits quite close to the ground. The operator could direct the machine to go backwards, forwards or steer it from side to side. As soon as the operator has positioned the unit in place the blades could be raised to the required level that makes it really convenient for the operator. For instance, if the materials required, are located on a shelf that the operator could not reach, then whole platform can be raised up to certain level. Due to the counterweight situated at the other end, the unit remains balanced, even at higher levels.
When the order has been picked, the platform is lowered back to its original position. Then the order picker can be driven to its next load. With most models, it is possible to move the order picker while the platform is raised, however, several businesses may have procedures and policies in place preventing such maneuvers for safety reasons. An order picker could also put pallets on a shelf. Forklifts and stackers could be utilized to complete these specific tasks at some companies instead.