Order Pickers & AGV Forklifts
An order picker takes the operator to the stock rather than the stock to the operator. Instead of pulling a full pallet down to floor level to take three cartons off it, the picker lifts the operator and the pallet together, so the pick happens at the beam. On a site picking cases rather than full pallets, that single change is usually worth more than any other machine on the floor.
Forktruck Solutions supplies, hires and services the EP range of low level and high level order pickers, plus the XP15 AGV – an autonomous mobile robot that handles repetitive pallet moves without an operator at all. Everything here is electric, lithium-ion and supported by our own engineers.
What is an order picker?
An order picker is a warehouse truck that raises the operator alongside the load so individual cases, cartons or items can be picked directly from racking. The operator stands on a platform that lifts with the forks, secured by a harness on machines that go high, and picks onto a pallet or cage travelling with them.
That is what separates it from every other machine on this site. A pallet truck moves whole pallets. A reach truck puts whole pallets into racking. An order picker exists for the moment when you need part of a pallet, which is most of what a fulfilment, wholesale or spares operation does all day.
You will also see them called order picker forklifts or picking trucks. They split into two families by how high the operator goes, and the difference between the two is significant in cost, training and racking design.
Low level order pickers
A low level order picker keeps the operator at or near floor level and lifts the pallet slightly, so picking from the bottom two beam levels happens at a comfortable working height without bending to the floor.
These are the workhorses of case picking. The operator walks or rides alongside, picks from the ground and first beam, and moves down the aisle continuously – picking rates are high because there is no lifting cycle between picks. Ride-on models with long platforms suit long aisles and heavy pick lists, where the walking alone would otherwise dominate the shift.
In our range the EPT20-RAP is the standard low level order picker, and the JX0 covers lighter task-support picking where precise steering and stability matter more than capacity.
High level order pickers
A high level order picker lifts the operator to the pick face, so picking continues up the racking instead of stopping at the second beam. This is what makes it possible to store picking stock above head height rather than dedicating the best floor-level locations to slow-moving lines.
The JX2 lifts to 3,620 mm with a one tonne capacity, which covers mid-level picking in conventional racking. The JX1 is a vertical order picker reaching 6.5 metres – it sits deliberately between low level pickers and much more expensive very narrow aisle trucks, which makes it a practical answer for e-commerce and small-goods operations that need the height without the VNA price or the guided aisle installation.
Operators working at height need harness training and a rescue plan, and the racking has to be specified for the picking method. We cover both when we quote.
AGV forklifts: automating repetitive moves
An AGV forklift does a job no picker does: it removes the operator from moves that never vary. Trailer to staging, staging to line, line to despatch – the same route, the same pallets, all shift.
The XP15 works as both an autonomous mobile robot and an ordinary electric pallet truck, which is what makes it a realistic first step into automation. It navigates by 2D visual navigation with random labelling rather than requiring wires or magnetic tape cut into your floor, detects obstacles with bumper strips and lidar, and switches tasks over Bluetooth. If the automation is not needed on a given day, an operator drives it.
Forklift AGVs earn their return on repetition rather than complexity. If you can describe a route in one sentence and it runs dozens of times a shift, it is usually a candidate. We will map your flows before recommending one.
The EP order picker and AGV range
Five machines covering low level picking, high level picking and automated pallet movement. Compare them below, then talk to us about beam heights, aisle layout and pick rates.
XP15
EP’s proprietary visual navigation tech ensures the XP15’s stable and versatile navigation, with precise positioning for continuous path tracking.
EP’s XP15 is a versatile intralogistics solution, functioning as an autonomous mobile robot and electric pallet truck. It’s easily adaptable, supports Bluetooth task switching, and boasts a plug-in battery design with a standard 24V/60Ah Li-ion battery for maximum uptime.
The XP15 employs advanced 2D visual navigation technology, combined with random labeling, to maintain precise positioning during operations. Safety is prioritized with bumper strips and Lidar detectors to prevent collisions.
Features
- Stand-alone installation
- Flexible to change application
- Plug-in battery design
- Maximum personal safety protection
EPT20-RAP
A sturdy, cost-effective order picker trucks with standard components often charged extra elsewhere.
EP Equipment’s EPT 20-RAP stands as the top pick for low-level order picking. Fueled by a robust AC motor, intuitive controls, and exceptional performance, it’s your key to heightened warehouse productivity and safety.
Features
- Electric Power Steering
- Curve Slowdown
- Lateral Battery Exchange
JX2
The JX2 offers great features that improves your daily operations.
Opt for our sturdy JX2, and you’ll experience remarkable comfort and enhanced visibility, ensuring a safer and more flexible order picking process. The JX2 effortlessly lifts up to one ton with a maximum lift height of 3620mm.
Features
- One Ton Lifting Capacity
- Durable Chassis
- Easy Control
JX1
The JX1 vertical order picker, a versatile solution between low-level pickers and costly VNA trucks, allows efficient picking up to 6.5 meters. Ideal for E-commerce and small goods environments, it boosts productivity and safety.
Elevate your warehouse productivity and safety with the JX1 vertical order picker. Its robust, stable mast and spacious work platform ensure efficient, secure operations for your workforce.
Features
- Great Capacity
- Variable Speed Control
- Mast Construction And Steel Frame
JX0
Unlike typical task support vehicles, the JX0 offers precise steering, ideal for novice operators. Its unique drive system ensures stability at great heights.
EP introduces a compact and agile 3-wheel Li-ion forklift truck for the rapid turnover of goods in confined space with low ceiling height. This truck combines maximum maneuverability and renewable energy source- 48V/150Ah Li-ion battery and an integrated charger, which enables charging convenience and longer uptime to facilitate multi shifts applications. EFS151 is equipped with EP’s in-house preventive service app, with direct access via bluetooth to parameter monitoring and changes, and real-time diagnostics, to reinforce maintenance efficiency and extend the life of the truck.
Features
- Lithium battery
- 1.5T capacity
- 6500mm maximum lifting height
- 48V/160Ah
- AC controller
Which order picker is right for you?
| Low level order picker | High level order picker | AGV forklift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator position | At floor level | Raised to the pick face | None – autonomous |
| Typical pick height | Ground and first beam | Up to 6.5 m | Pallet transport only |
| Best for | High-volume case picking, long aisles | Picking stock stored above head height | Repetitive, unchanging pallet routes |
| Harness required | No | Yes | N/A |
| Navigation | Operator | Operator | 2D visual, no floor wiring |
| FTS models | EPT20-RAP, JX0 | JX2 (3,620 mm), JX1 (6.5 m) | XP15 |
Capacities and lift heights vary by model and battery specification. Tell us your beam heights, pick profile and aisle layout and we will confirm the right machine.
Where order pickers are used
- E-commerce and fulfilment – single-item and multi-line picks where the pick rate per operator is the number the whole operation is measured on.
- Wholesale and cash and carry – mixed case picking from racking, with heavy pick lists and long aisles.
- Spares and aftermarket – thousands of slow-moving lines stored high, picked in ones and twos.
- Food and drink distribution – case picking onto roll cages, often in chilled areas where standing time matters.
- Manufacturing stores – kitting and line-side replenishment from component racking.
- Pharmaceutical and medical – high-value small goods stored densely, picked with full traceability.
Order pickers rarely work alone. Most sites pair them with reach trucks to replenish the pick faces from bulk storage above, and pallet trucks to move completed pallets to despatch.
Order picker training, safety and working at height
Order pickers raise a person, not just a load, which puts them in a stricter category than most warehouse trucks.
Working at height. On high level machines the operator must wear a harness attached to the designated anchor point, and the site needs a written rescue plan for retrieving someone suspended at height. That plan is a legal expectation, not a formality, and it is the thing most often missing when we audit a site.
Training. Operators need accredited training for the specific machine type. Low level and high level order pickers are assessed separately, and neither is covered by a counterbalance or reach truck ticket.
Thorough examination. An order picker lifts people and loads, so it falls under LOLER. Machines that lift people must be thoroughly examined at least every six months rather than twelve – a distinction that is easy to miss and expensive to get wrong.
Racking and housekeeping. Pick faces take constant knocks. Racking inspection on the same cycle as the truck service is worth building into the contract. See servicing and repairs.
Order pickers for sale, hire and lease
Order pickers are seasonal for a lot of operations, which makes hire more attractive here than on most machine types. Forktruck Solutions offers short-term hire for peak, long-term and contract hire for permanent fleet, lease, and outright purchase of the full EP range. See our hire and leasing options.
Every machine is supported by our own directly employed engineers, covering planned maintenance, breakdown cover, parts, battery support and six-monthly thorough examination.
On a picking operation, utilisation data is worth having from day one – it tells you whether you need another machine or another shift pattern. Find out about fleet telematics.
GET IN TOUCH
Every warehouse picks differently. Tell us your pick profile, beam heights and shift pattern and we will specify the right order picker or AGV for the job.
T: 01924 265623
Order picker FAQs
What is an order picker used for?
An order picker is used to pick individual cases, cartons or items from racking rather than moving whole pallets. The operator is raised alongside the load so the pick happens at the beam instead of pulling the pallet down to floor level. It is the standard machine for e-commerce fulfilment, wholesale case picking, spares operations and anywhere the job is taking part of a pallet rather than all of it.
What is the difference between a low level and a high level order picker?
A low level order picker keeps the operator at or near floor level and is used for picking from the ground and first beam – picking rates are high because there is no lifting cycle between picks. A high level order picker raises the operator to the pick face so picking continues up the racking, in our range to 3,620 mm on the JX2 and 6.5 metres on the JX1. High level machines need harness training and a rescue plan; low level machines do not.
What is the difference between an order picker and a forklift?
A forklift moves whole pallets and the operator stays at floor level. An order picker raises the operator with the load so they can pick individual items from racking. They are complementary rather than alternatives: most warehouses use forklifts or reach trucks to replenish pick faces from bulk storage, and order pickers to pick from those faces.
How high can an order picker lift?
It depends on the type. Low level order pickers raise the pallet only enough to make ground and first-beam picking comfortable. High level order pickers in our range reach 3,620 mm (JX2) and 6.5 metres (JX1). The JX1 is designed to sit between low level pickers and very narrow aisle trucks, giving useful height without the cost or guided-aisle installation a VNA truck requires.
Do you need a licence to operate an order picker?
There is no road licence, but operators must hold accredited training for the specific machine type before using one at work. Low level and high level order pickers are assessed separately, and neither is covered by a counterbalance or reach truck ticket. Employers also owe site-specific familiarisation and refresher training on a defined cycle.
What safety equipment does a high level order picker need?
Operators on high level machines must wear a harness attached to the designated anchor point on the platform, and the site must have a written rescue plan for retrieving someone suspended at height. Pre-use checks should cover the platform, gates, harness anchor, mast, chains and hydraulics. The rescue plan is the element most often missing when we audit a site.
How often do order pickers need a LOLER thorough examination?
Every six months, not twelve. Lifting equipment that lifts people falls under a stricter LOLER interval than equipment that only lifts loads, so an order picker needs thorough examination at least every six months. That is separate from routine servicing and produces its own report.
What is an AGV forklift?
An AGV forklift is an automated guided vehicle that moves pallets without an operator. The XP15 in our range works as both an autonomous mobile robot and an ordinary electric pallet truck, navigating by 2D visual navigation with random labelling rather than wires or magnetic tape cut into the floor, with bumper strips and lidar for obstacle detection. Because it also drives manually, it is a realistic first step into automation rather than an all-or-nothing commitment.
Is an AGV forklift worth it for my warehouse?
Forklift AGVs pay back on repetition rather than complexity. If a route is unchanging – trailer to staging, staging to line, line to despatch – and runs dozens of times a shift, it is usually a candidate. If your pallet moves vary constantly or the routes are short, an operator on a pallet truck will still be faster and cheaper. We map the flows before recommending one.
Does an AGV need floor wiring or magnetic tape?
No. The XP15 uses 2D visual navigation with random labelling, so there is no need to cut wires or lay magnetic tape into your floor. That keeps installation cost and disruption low and makes it straightforward to change the route later as the operation changes.
Can I hire an order picker rather than buy one?
Yes, and picking operations hire more than most. Forktruck Solutions offers short-term hire for peak season, long-term and contract hire for permanent fleet, lease and outright purchase. Short-term hire is the usual way to cover Christmas or a seasonal peak without carrying the machine and its servicing cost for the rest of the year.