Order Picker Ladder & Platform Suppliers

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.

• Low-level order picker ladders. These machines are ideal for warehouses with low level shelves and orders that need to be picked from both sides of an aisle. They offer good acceleration, around 2,500kg load capacity and excellent operator safety and comfort.
• Mid-level order picker ladders. Mid-level units are designed for picking up to about 3 metres. They provide maximum safety and comfort for an operator and easy, precise steering. Load capacity tends to be around 1000kg.
• High-level order picker ladders. At the top end of the picking scale, these units are designed to reach racks around 8 metres high and can carry about 1,400kg on average. They allow warehouses to make full use of high ceilings and racking space safely and comfortably.

• Do orders need to be picked from low, medium or high shelves and racks?
• How much does an average picked order weigh?
• Does the operator need to pick from both sides of an aisle at once?
• What safety features does the order picker require?
• What balance needs to be reached between comfort and functionality?
• How much space does the platform need to have for order stacking?

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.

• Faded or grimy controls and switches can make it hard for operators to know what function is what which increases the risk of a mishap. Make sure all controls are clean and legible.
• Faulty tilt alarms can cause a serious accident if an order picker is raised on a slope or uneven surface.
• Faulty pot-hole protection can cause pickers to topple in unexpected dips when moving around at height. Faulty access gates that fail to close properly are a serious safety risk especially when an order picker is being operated at height.

First and foremost, follow all manufacturer maintenance recommendations and keep a detailed log of all inspections and repairs.

Regularly check:

• Frame condition
• Connections and fasteners
• Weld strength
• Wiring
• Hydraulics
• Brakes
• Tyres
• Controls
• All safety devices – gates, anchorage points, horns, emergency systems and fall protection