900kg Pedestrian Counterbalance Stacker

The 900kg pedestrian counterbalance stacker from Hall-Fast offers a practical, cost-effective solution for businesses that need to lift and stack palletised loads without the size, complexity, or expense of a full forklift truck. Operated on foot by a single person, this walk-behind stacker combines powered lift with a counterbalanced chassis – meaning it requires no straddle legs, allowing it to handle closed-bottom pallets, stillages, and containers that leg-style stackers cannot.

What Is a Counterbalance Stacker?

Most pedestrian stackers use straddle legs – two wide base legs that slide underneath the pallet to provide stability during lifting. While effective, these legs restrict the stacker to open-bottomed pallets and limit how closely it can approach racking, walls, and other obstacles. A counterbalance stacker eliminates those legs entirely. Instead, it uses a heavy counterweight built into the chassis to offset the load, exactly the same principle used in full-size counterbalance forklift trucks. The result is a far more versatile machine that can pick up any pallet type from any direction.

Compact, Walk-Behind Design

Unlike sit-on forklifts, this stacker is designed for pedestrian operation. The operator walks behind the unit, controlling travel speed and mast lift via an ergonomic tiller handle. This makes the stacker ideal for environments where space is limited, traffic is light, and a full forklift would be impractical or unnecessary. With no cab, no seat, and a narrow chassis, it fits comfortably into stockrooms, back-of-store areas, workshops, and small warehouses where turning space is restricted.

900kg Capacity – Right-Sized for Light-Duty Work

The 900kg (0.9 tonne) load capacity covers a wide range of everyday handling tasks: stacking cartons, moving wrapped pallets, positioning drums, and loading goods onto shelving or low-level racking. For businesses that don’t need to move heavy industrial loads, this capacity represents a sensible, economical choice – you get powered stacking capability without over-specifying on equipment.

Electric Powered for Indoor Use

The stacker runs on a rechargeable battery, producing zero direct emissions and minimal noise. This makes it fully suitable for indoor use in food storage, retail environments, pharmaceutical facilities, and any workspace where air quality and noise levels matter. Electric power also means lower running costs compared to manual handling or internal combustion equipment, with simple overnight charging to keep the stacker ready for each shift.

Pedestrian Stacker vs Forklift: Which Do You Need?

A pedestrian counterbalance stacker is not a replacement for a forklift in every situation. It excels in low-throughput, light-duty settings where loads are under a tonne and lift heights are modest. If you need to handle heavier loads, work at greater heights, or move goods across large sites at speed, a sit-on electric forklift such as the 1000kg or 1500kg models in the Hall-Fast range will be more appropriate. However, for many small businesses and stockroom operations, a pedestrian stacker delivers exactly the right level of capability at a fraction of the cost.

Key Features

• 900kg rated load capacity – handles standard pallets, cartons, drums, and light industrial goods
• Counterbalance design – no straddle legs required, works with closed-bottom pallets, stillages, and containers
• Pedestrian operated – walk-behind tiller control for single-operator use in compact spaces
• Electric battery powered – zero emissions, quiet operation, rechargeable for daily shift use
• Compact chassis – narrow footprint navigates tight aisles, doorways, and stockroom environments
• Powered mast lift – smooth hydraulic lifting reduces operator effort and improves cycle times
• Low maintenance – fewer components than a forklift, no engine servicing, minimal wear parts
• Indoor and sheltered outdoor use – suitable for warehouses, stockrooms, workshops, and covered loading areas

Ideal Applications

• Stockroom and back-of-store pallet handling – stacking and retrieving goods in retail and wholesale environments
• Small warehouse operations – managing palletised stock where a forklift is oversized or impractical
• Workshop and light manufacturing – positioning materials, components, and finished goods
• Order picking and despatch – building pallets and loading goods onto transport
• Food and beverage storage – emission-free operation in hygiene-sensitive environments
• Print, packaging, and distribution – moving reels, cartons, and banded pallet loads
• Pharmaceutical and cleanroom support – quiet, clean handling of sensitive products

Specifications

Why Buy Your Pedestrian Stacker from Hall-Fast?

Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies has been equipping UK businesses with reliable handling and lifting equipment for over 55 years. We understand that not every operation needs a full forklift – and that choosing the right stacker can save significant cost while still delivering the performance you need.

Our team can help you decide between a counterbalance stacker, a straddle stacker, or an electric forklift based on your pallet types, lift heights, throughput, and working environment. We offer free UK quotations and practical, no-pressure advice.

Call us: 01623 645645

Email: sales@hall-fast.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pedestrian counterbalance stacker?

A pedestrian counterbalance stacker is a walk-behind, battery-powered lifting machine that uses a built-in counterweight to balance loads on the forks. Unlike straddle stackers, it has no base legs extending forward, so it can handle closed-bottom pallets, stillages, and containers from any direction. The operator walks behind the stacker and controls movement and lift via a tiller handle.

What can a 900kg pedestrian stacker lift?

This stacker is rated to lift loads up to 900kg. In practice, that covers most standard pallets of cartons, boxed goods, drums, and light industrial materials. It is well suited to stockroom, retail, and light warehouse tasks where loads rarely exceed one tonne.

What is the difference between a counterbalance stacker and a straddle stacker?

A straddle stacker has two wide legs that extend under the pallet to provide stability. This works well with open-bottomed pallets but prevents the stacker from picking up closed-bottom containers, stillages, or pallets sitting flush on the ground. A counterbalance stacker uses an internal counterweight instead of legs, so it can approach and lift any pallet type from any side – giving it greater versatility.

Do I need a forklift licence to operate a pedestrian stacker?

UK regulations require that anyone operating a pedestrian stacker receives adequate training. While the formal licensing requirements differ from those for sit-on counterbalance forklifts, operators must still be trained and assessed as competent under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and relevant HSE guidelines. Hall-Fast recommends ensuring all operators complete accredited pedestrian stacker training before use.

Is a pedestrian stacker suitable for outdoor use?

Pedestrian counterbalance stackers are primarily designed for indoor use on smooth, level floors. They can be used in sheltered outdoor areas such as covered loading bays, but they are not intended for rough terrain, uneven ground, or prolonged exposure to wet conditions. For regular outdoor handling, a powered forklift truck with pneumatic tyres would be more appropriate.