Have you considered an alternative to reach and order pickers, which not only save valuable space but are also far more flexible? I refer to the articulated forklifts pioneered in Britain by Translift Bendi and which can work in aisles only 1.6 mt wide compared with a reach truck's typical need for a minimum of 2.6 mt. Unlike reach trucks, they can also work out on rough yards, loading/unloading lorries, and can lift loads to 13 mt high. Typically, a Bendi can allow operators to store around 33% more pallet positions than a reach truck.

In the States, the Bendi is made by Landoll, of Marysville, Kansas, originally under licence from Translift Bendi in the UK. The latter has also recently invented a man-up version of the Bendi for order picking needs which still offers the same very narrow aisle working capabilities of the man-down versions and yard work capabilities. You might say a truck for all occasions.