In the manufacturing workshop, the flow of materials from the warehouse to the production line, between the production lines, and to the temporary storage area of the finished product is a continuous and dynamic process.As two complementary handling equipment, the stacker and the pallet truck can build an efficient and smooth internal logistics system through scientific collaborative application.The core of this kind of collaboration lies in the rational allocation of equipment roles according to the status and movement needs of the material unit.Usually, pallet trucks (manual or electric) are mainly responsible for the horizontal transportation on the “line”, that is, the movement of materials between the functional areas in the workshop and along a fixed channel for a long distance.For example, the raw material pallets are transported from the warehouse receiving area to the production line preparation area, or the assembled product pallets are transported from the end of the production line to the packaging area or the finished product staging area.Its advantages are high horizontal movement efficiency, flexible steering, and relatively low channel width requirements.

The stacker (manual, semi-electric or fully electric) is mainly responsible for vertical stacking and loading and unloading operations on the “point”.For example, in a warehouse or temporary storage area, the pallets of goods are stacked from the ground to a certain height on the shelf, or picked up from the shelf and placed on the pallet truck; at the loading point of the production line, the pallets are removed from the pallet truck and placed accurately to the designated station; or the transfer of materials is carried out between conveying platforms and workstations of different heights.The advantage of the stacker lies in its lifting ability, which can solve the problem of displacement in the vertical direction.The typical process of collaboration between the two is: the stacker completes the access operation of the warehouse shelves and places the goods on the ground; then the pallet truck transports the goods horizontally to the designated area of the workshop; after reaching the target area, the stacker in that area (or a special lifting device on the production line) completes the final unloading, stacking or loading operation.

Achieving efficient collaboration requires detailed job planning and management.First of all, the configuration quantity and performance specifications of various types of equipment need to be determined according to the peak volume, distance, and frequency of material flow.Secondly, a clear logistics route needs to be designed to reduce intersections and detours, and special equipment parking and charging/maintenance areas may be set up.Information management can improve the level of collaboration. For example, through the logistics command system, pallet trucks are dispatched to designated locations to pick up and deliver pallets prepared or needed by the stacker.In addition, the training of operators should cover the basic operation of the two types of equipment and understand their role in the overall process.By seamlessly connecting the “vertical access” of the stacker with the “horizontal transportation” capabilities of the pallet truck, manufacturing companies can significantly reduce material waiting time, reduce WIP inventory, and improve the punctuality of production line feeding, thereby compressing internal logistics costs and improving overall production and operation efficiency.