Order pickers are a type of mechanical equipment specifically designed for the warehousing and logistics industry, primarily used for efficient picking and sorting of goods. Order pickers typically feature an electric drive system, allowing the vehicle to move quickly within the warehouse. They are equipped with platforms and picking areas where operators can stack loads from the carrying device onto shelves, or pick loads from shelves and place them onto the carrying device.

Additionally, order pickers may include specific features such as optional lifting platforms, allowing operators to pick at different heights, thereby increasing efficiency and flexibility. Order pickers are a type of warehouse forklift, particularly suitable for situations where multiple varieties of goods need to be picked to form a pallet according to an order, such as in supermarket distribution centers.

Order pickers are efficient warehouse and logistics equipment. Through their electric drive and multifunctional operating platform, they can meet the modern warehouse management's demand for fast and accurate picking.

How do order pickers work?
The working principle of order pickers mainly involves the handling and retrieval of materials. Order pickers can be divided into manual and automated types, each with different operating methods and application scenarios:

1. Manual order pickers: Manual order pickers, such as the Crown manual order picker, are mainly used for picking at medium and high levels. In warehouses with narrow aisles or very narrow aisles, these vehicles can raise the operator along with the load platform, allowing them to directly access small parts, boxes, and entire pallets of stored inventory.

2. Electric order pickers: Automated order picking systems, such as the cart-based digital display picking system, work through steps including distribution, receiving instruction display, parking, and parking instruction when the goods location is reached. This system guides the driver through the onboard instruction display system. When the vehicle reaches the designated picking location, a parking instruction is displayed, prompting the driver to stop and perform the corresponding operation according to the instruction.

Additionally, there are specially designed order pickers, such as the EKS 110 vertical order picker, which is suitable for high-level picking tasks in wide-aisle warehouses. This model has a large platform height, capable of reaching picking heights of up to 4.6 meters, suitable for situations where items need to be retrieved from higher positions.

What are some application cases of order pickers in the warehousing and logistics industry?
The application cases of order pickers in the warehousing and logistics industry include various scenarios and technological solutions. Here are some specific application cases:

1. Yokemei Beauty E-commerce Warehouse: Yiwu Technology and Ruitai Supply Chain have cooperated to launch the industry's first CO-PICK small cart intelligent picking solution. The project was quickly launched in May 2021, effectively improving warehouse efficiency.

2. CaddyPick Semi-automatic Order Picking Solution: Suitable for mixed box pallets or warehouse cage trolleys, this solution can be used in ambient and refrigerated environments. It uses a single-track trolley (Caddy) for automatic transportation of order units in the picking aisle, combining "person to goods" and "zone to zone" picking solutions.

3. X-PTS Multi-layer Shuttle System: This system is positioned as an efficient goods-to-person picking system, with an inbound and outbound efficiency of up to 11,000 boxes per hour. The ergonomic picking station efficiency can also reach 1,000 boxes per hour.

4. Changan Minsheng Auto Parts Logistics Unmanned Warehouse Picking: This is the first case in the automotive logistics industry to extensively apply an intelligent trolley storage mode, covering 7 logistics links including placement, storage, and picking of automotive parts, achieving a 85% increase in picking efficiency.

5. German Cadis Intelligent Warehousing: Through a vertical revolving warehouse system, goods are automatically delivered to the delivery port, and then quickly placed on a trolley through the Color Picking picking solution, significantly increasing picking efficiency by 300%.

What are the differences and application scenarios between different types of order pickers?
Different types of order pickers, such as electric forklifts and manual order pickers, mainly differ in design, functionality, and application scenarios.

Electric order picker Forklifts:
1. Functional Features: Electric forklifts have the ability to move horizontally and lift vertically, suitable for loading, unloading, and lifting operations. They are usually equipped with electric drive systems, providing efficient and low-noise handling solutions.
2. Application Scenarios: Electric forklifts are widely used in warehousing logistics, ports, airports, factories, and other environments. They are particularly suitable for operations that require entry into narrow spaces such as railcars and containers. Additionally, electric forklifts are used in places with high cleanliness requirements such as food, medical, and textile industries due to their zero emissions and low noise.
3. Structural Classification: Based on the picking height of the goods, electric forklifts can be divided into low-level (within 2.5 meters) and medium-to-high-level (up to 10 meters), with different load capacities.

Manual Order Pickers:
1. Functional Features: Manual order pickers rely mainly on human power for operation, without relying on electric or other power sources. This type of order picker is usually more suitable for handling small goods.
2. Application Scenarios: Since manual order pickers do not require power support, they are more suitable for environments without power supply or where the use of electric equipment is prohibited. Additionally, manual order pickers may be more suitable for some simple handling tasks, especially in situations where space is limited or cost considerations are high.

In conclusion, electric forklifts are highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and adaptable, making them ideal for modern large-scale logistics and warehousing scenarios. Manual order pickers, on the other hand, are simpler and more cost-effective, making them more suitable for small-scale or special environment applications.

What are the maintenance and operation standards for order pickers?
The maintenance and operation standards for order pickers mainly involve several aspects:

1. Pre-operation preparation: Drivers should strictly wear work clothes as required, and it is strictly forbidden to participate in operations bare-chested, barefoot, or wearing high heels or sandals. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that no items are installed on the ceiling or around the vehicle that may affect operation and visibility, and various technical inspections of the electric order picker should be carried out.
2. Precautions for loading and unloading goods: When loading and unloading goods, a slow-moving or creeping speed (5 cm/second) should be used, and when loading goods onto the freight vehicle, it must be ensured that the vehicle is properly docked at the loading dock. At the same time, the load weight of the forklift must not exceed the rated load capacity of the forklift.
3. Norms for use, operation, and maintenance: The use, operation, and maintenance of the vehicle should comply with the manufacturer's instructions. In addition, users must also comply with other norms, regulations, or applications specified by the vehicle usage location.

4. Safety Standards: According to the national standard GB/T 36507-2023, there are clear provisions for the safety requirements of industrial vehicles during use, operation, maintenance, transportation, towing, assembly, storage, and modification. This includes various types of forklifts such as counterbalanced forklifts, reach forklifts, and straddle forklifts.

5. Stability Verification: For specific types of picking trucks, such as pallet stackers, double-deck stackers, and picking trucks with an operator position height of not more than 1200 mm, stability verification is also required to ensure the stability and safety of the vehicle during operation.