A stock picker or order picker machinery is very like a typical forklift. It has hydraulic blades able to raise a pallet. Order pickers can also lift the operator up to high places, which is a feature that lift trucks presently do not provide. Usually, order pickers are powered by electricity. These machinery are mainly used in a warehouse setting. Most often they are used for moving pallets and completing specific tasks in the shelving and stocking department.
The operator of an order picker utilizes controls to control the unit from a platform setting which normally sits fairly near the ground. The operator could direct the machinery to go backwards, forwards or steer it from side to side. As soon as the operator has positioned the unit in place the forks can be raised to the required level which makes it very convenient for the operator. For instance, if the required materials, are situated on a shelf that the operator could not reach, then whole platform is capable of being raised up to certain level. Due to the counterweight located at the other end, the unit remains balanced, even at higher levels.
After the order has been picked, the platform is lowered back to its original position. Then the order picker could be driven to its next load. With most models, it is possible to move the order picker whilst the platform is raised, however, several companies may have policies and procedures in place preventing such maneuvers for safety reasons. An order picker is also able to put pallets on a shelf. Forklifts and stackers could be utilized to complete these particular tasks at several companies instead.