Pallet stackers — sometimes called pallet jack stackers, because they pair the wheeled base of a pallet jack with a lifting mast — let you lift, transport and stack palletised loads in aisles, racking bays and storage areas that are too confined or too busy for a full counterbalance forklift. They’re the workhorses of warehouses, manufacturing facilities and distribution centres — and choosing the right type depends on your lift height, aisle width, load weight and how frequently the machine will be used.
Types of Pallet Stacker
Hydraulic Stackers
Also called manual stackers or hand-pump stackers, these use a foot-operated hydraulic pump to raise the load and gravity to lower it. They require no battery or power supply, making them ideal for occasional use, smaller facilities or as a low-cost first stacker. The GPC VULCAN hydraulic range is available in fixed fork and adjustable straddle fork configurations, with straddle models giving you more flexibility across different pallet sizes. All conform to CE standard EN 1757-1 and run on 180 mm swivel rear castors for easy manoeuvring.
Semi-Electric Stackers
Semi-electric stackers offer the best of both worlds: the forks are raised and lowered automatically by a 12 V electric motor, but you still push and steer the unit manually. This dramatically reduces operator fatigue on repeated lifting cycles while keeping purchase and maintenance costs lower than a fully powered machine. The GPC VULCAN semi-electric range includes standard fixed-fork models and a semi-electric straddle stacker with adjustable forks — straddle legs pass around a standard UK pallet so you can set loads down at floor level as well as at height. Built-in charger as standard; conform to EN 1757-1.
Fully Powered Stackers
Fully powered pedestrian stackers automate both drive and lift, making them the right choice for high-throughput environments where operators cover long distances and perform many lifts per shift. The GPC VULCAN fully powered range includes:
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Fully Powered Stacker — 2 × 12 V/85 Ah maintenance-free batteries, built-in charger, turning radius 1,485 mm, duplex mast, CE marked to EN 1757-1.
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Fully Powered Straddle Stacker — straddle legs for improved stability and floor-level pickup capability.
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Fully Powered Counterbalance Stacker — no outrigger legs, so it works in tighter aisles and can get right up to racking. Compact duplex mast for excellent forward visibility; short wheelbase, low noise.
How to Choose a Pallet Stacker
Lift height: Match the stacker’s maximum lift height to your highest racking beam. VULCAN stackers reach between 1.6 m and 5.5 m depending on mast configuration — check the individual model specification.
Load capacity: Typical VULCAN stacker capacities are 1,000 kg to 1,500 kg. Confirm the rated capacity at the load centre quoted in the spec sheet.
Aisle width: Straddle stackers need a wider aisle because the legs extend around the pallet. If your racking uses narrow aisles (under 2.5 m), a counterbalance model is usually the better fit.
Frequency of use: Occasional lifts (a few per day) → hydraulic. Regular lifts (tens per day) → semi-electric. High throughput (continuous use across a shift) → fully powered.
Compliance: All GPC VULCAN stackers are CE marked and comply with EN 1757-1 (or EN 1757-2 for selected semi-electric straddle models). Under LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998, lifting equipment used at work must be examined by a competent person at least every 12 months.
Need to compare stackers against pallet trucks? Our manual vs electric pallet trucks guide covers the key differences. For racking to go with your stacker, see the full pallet and cantilever racking range.
Stacker buying guides
Not sure whether you need a stacker at all? Our pallet stacker vs pallet truck guide walks through lift height, layouts and licensing if you’re weighing a pallet jack stacker against a straightforward pallet truck, our new how to choose a pallet stacker guide compares manual, semi-electric and fully powered types in depth, and the electric pallet trucks guide covers the powered alternatives if your pallets never leave the ground. For powered straddle and counterbalance models, see the powered stackers range.
