An order picker or stock picker equipment is really similar to a standard forklift. It has hydraulic blades able to pick up a pallet. Order pickers could also lift the operator up to high places, which is a feature that lift trucks presently do not offer. Typically, order pickers are operated by electricity. These type of equipment are mostly used in a warehouse environment. Most often they are utilized for moving pallets and finishing certain jobs in the shelving and stocking department.
The operator of an order picker utilizes controls to control the unit from a platform setting that normally sits quite close to the ground. The operator could direct the equipment to go forward, backward or steer it from side to side. Once the operator has positioned the unit in place the forks could be raised to the required level that makes it very convenient for the operator. For instance, if the materials needed, are situated on a shelf which the operator cannot reach, then entire platform can be raised up to certain level. Due to the counterweight located 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 could be driven to its next load. With the majority of models, it is possible to move the order picker while the platform is raised, however, some businesses might have policies and procedures in place preventing such maneuvers for safety reasons. An order picker could also place pallets on a shelf. Forklifts and stackers can be used to finish these specific jobs at several companies instead.