The arrival of forklifts has sent warehouse configurations literally through the roof. Pallet loads of stock are now easily reachable from more than three storeys high, drastically cutting necessary warehouse real estate for bulk storage.
This is all well and good until that bulk storage needs to be reached for customer orders. Using a forklift to drop pallets to the floor every time orders are picked is both time consuming and impractical.
Enter order picker ladders. While many smaller warehouses work perfectly fine by transferring the contents of a single pallet box to ground-level shelves for easy order assembly, purpose-built ladders with secure platforms and supports for operators make picking orders from high shelves safe.
From low-level order pickers to high level rack picking ladders, there’s a unit to suit all warehouse and manufacturing environments. Order pickers can also be used for safer home improvements and basic building maintenance.
An order picker ladder is basically a high-tech, heavy duty mobile lift. They are also called elevated work platforms because they allow operators to work safety while picking orders at height.
Generally, order picker ladders are used by warehouses to assemble orders pre-delivery. However, they can also be used for small scale construction jobs and painting as long as the surface is flat and, preferably, indoors. Order pickers offer warehouses a practical, efficient solution to the order assembly process that cuts picking time and keeps workers safe.
If that means raising an order picker on a pallet to assemble orders from racks, definitely not. Not only is such a practice highly dangerous, it fails just about every health and safety practice in the book.
If it means lowering pallets one by one to the ground and picking orders from there, that will work fine, but it’s extremely time-consuming. Order picker ladders offer a mobile solution for fast picking at varying heights.
Order picker ladders are not cheap, but then they are large, sturdy machines required to do an important job safely. The average price for a mid range order picker is about $124,000, but you can spend as much as $246,000 for a high end unit.
Order picker ladders perform a critical function in warehouse delivery processes, but they can only do this safely if they’re kept in good working order. Here are a few things that can go wrong.
First and foremost, follow all manufacturer maintenance recommendations and keep a detailed log of all inspections and repairs.
Regularly check:
Most popular Order Picker Ladder suppliers and brands on IndustrySearch are R.J. Cox Engineering, Tente Castors & Wheels, Containit Solutions, MHA Products, Ladder Central, Pack King.