Oct 9, 2026Buying Guides
Stock Picker Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Aerial Order Picker for Your Warehouse
Stock picker vs scissor lift, aisle width, working height and battery life — how to specify an aerial order picker for warehouse picking, with an SP50 vs SP60 comparison.
A stock picker — also called an order picker or aerial order picker — lifts one operator to the rack face so picking happens from a stable platform instead of a ladder. In warehouses with repeating picks at height, it is usually the single biggest change you can make to picking speed and safety.
This guide covers what a stock picker is, when it beats a scissor lift, the five numbers that decide your specification, and how to choose between the Outstrip SP50 and SP60.
What Is a Stock Picker?
A stock picker is a self-propelled, battery-powered platform built around one operator and a small load. The operator drives the machine down the aisle, raises the platform to the required shelf, picks, and moves on. It is a fast, repeatable cycle.
Three design traits separate a stock picker from general aerial work platforms:
- Narrow chassis. Both the SP50 and SP60 are 750 mm wide — narrow enough for standard picking aisles, with a near-zero inside turning radius.
- Single-person operation. The operator compartment is rated 136 kg. This is not a crew platform; it is a picking position.
- Integrated cargo handling. Picked goods go on the machine: a powered cargo shelf (90 kg on the SP50, 60 kg on the SP60) plus a ground-level shelf (115 kg / 85 kg). The operator never has to climb down to move stock.
Power is electric throughout — a 24 V system with two 12 V / 150 Ah maintenance-free batteries and a built-in 110–220 V charger that refills in about 8 hours.
Stock Picker vs Scissor Lift: When Each One Wins
Both machines lift a person to height, so buyers often compare them. They are built for different jobs.
| Stock picker (SP50 / SP60) | Electric scissor lift (SC series) |
|---|---|---|
Primary job | Repeated picking at the rack face | Maintenance, installation, crew work |
Working height | 5.1 m / 6.0 m | 5.9 m – 7.8 m |
Platform capacity | 136 kg operator + cargo shelves | Up to 240 kg |
Stowed width | 750 mm | 760 mm |
Load handling | Powered cargo shelf + ground shelf | Open deck; goods carried loose |
Choose a stock picker when the machine's day is mostly picking: a single operator, goods that fit on a shelf, and a repeating aisle-to-aisle cycle. The powered cargo shelf is the difference — it turns the machine into a picking station rather than a place to stand.
Choose a self-propelled scissor lift with electric drive when the task is work rather than picking: two workers on the deck, tools and materials lifted with them, or a larger platform footprint for installation and maintenance.
Some operations need both. That is normal — a picker for the picking aisle and a scissor for the service work are complementary, not competing.
The Five Numbers That Decide Your Specification
1. Highest pick face. Measure your top shelf, then add the operator's reach. If your highest pick face is around 3 m, an SP50 with its 5.1 m working height covers it. Around 4 m, and you need an SP60 at 6.0 m working height. Buying more height than you need adds weight you will pay for on every trip — a pattern we examined in our analysis of the safety-margin trap.
2. Narrowest aisle. Both machines are 750 mm wide with a near-zero inside turning radius and a 1.8 m outside turning radius. Compare those against your narrowest aisle, and account for racking protrusions or floor markings.
3. Load per trip. The operator is rated 136 kg. On top of that, the SP50 carries 90 kg on the powered shelf and 115 kg on the ground shelf; the SP60 carries 60 kg and 85 kg. If your pick list routinely exceeds those figures, plan two trips or a different machine.
4. Shift length. The SP50 delivers up to 300 lifting cycles or 10 km of driving per charge; the SP60 delivers 250 lifting cycles plus 8.5 km. Both charge in about 8 hours from a standard 110–220 V supply — a single-shift operation charges overnight where the machine parks.
5. Floor and slope. Both machines climb 15% grades with non-marking, anti-skid solid rubber tyres. On uneven surfaces, active front steering with rear-bridge drive keeps the machine tracking straight, which matters most when the platform is raised.
Those five numbers settle the machine. The commercial questions — budget, lead time, spare parts and commissioning — settle the supplier, and our complete MEWP buying checklist covers the full set.
SP50 vs SP60: Which Outstrip Order Picker Fits Your Operation
The two models share their design language — an aircraft-grade aluminium alloy mast, active front steering, proportional control and non-marking tyres — and differ in height, weight and endurance.
| SP50 | SP60 |
|---|---|---|
Platform height | 3.1 m | 4.0 m |
Working height | 5.1 m | 6.0 m |
Operator capacity | 136 kg | 136 kg |
Machine weight | 520 kg | 635 kg |
Powered cargo shelf | 90 kg | 60 kg |
Ground cargo shelf | 115 kg | 85 kg |
Battery endurance | 300 lifts or 10 km | 250 lifts + 8.5 km |
Certification | ISO9001 & CE | CE |
The decision rule is simple: measure your highest pick face first.
- Choose the SP50 order picker if a 3.1 m platform height reaches it. It is the lighter machine at 520 kg — which matters on mezzanine floors, in freight elevators and anywhere floor loading is a constraint — and it has the longer battery endurance.
- Choose the SP60 order picker if you need the extra metre. It reaches a 4 m platform height and 6 m working height while staying 750 mm wide, so the aisle does not change even though the reach does.
Both models include emergency stop, overload protection, automatic steering return and proportional joystick control as standard, and both are available with OEM customisation: battery upgrades, platform attachments and special colours.
What to Verify Before You Order
- Certification with paperwork. The SP50 is ISO9001 and CE certified; the SP60 is CE certified. Ask for the certificate and check that its scope covers your machine — our guide to CE certification for aerial work platforms explains exactly what to verify.
- Spare parts and service. Ask what consumables ship with the machine, what the lead time is on a mast or controller, and who supports you locally. Send the machine model and serial number with any parts enquiry; on Outstrip machines the plate is on the chassis.
- Warranty terms. Machines from Outstrip Industrial carry a 12-month warranty covering defects in material or workmanship. Read the exclusions before you sign.
- Delivery and commissioning. Standard production is about 30 days from deposit — check that against your project timeline before committing to an install date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a stock picker and an order picker?
They are the same class of machine. "Stock picker" and "order picker" are both used for a self-propelled platform that lifts one operator to the rack face; "aerial order picker" is the fuller English term. Regional usage varies — US warehouses often say stock picker, while European and Middle Eastern buyers tend to say order picker.
How high can a stock picker reach?
Outstrip stock pickers reach 5.1 m (SP50) and 6.0 m (SP60) working height, measured to the operator's hands with the platform raised. That covers the majority of single-deep and double-deep racking in distribution warehouses and retail backrooms.
Can a stock picker be used outdoors?
They are designed for indoor warehouse floors. The solid rubber tyres and 15% gradeability handle firm outdoor surfaces, but confirm the application with us before planning outdoor use — in our range, the SC08EC electric scissor lift is the outdoor-rated option.
How long does the battery last?
Up to 300 lifting cycles or 10 km of driving on the SP50, and 250 cycles plus 8.5 km on the SP60. Endurance varies with load, floor and operating habits; the figures are from standard test conditions.
Do you offer customisation?
Yes — both OEM and ODM are accepted. Battery upgrades, special colours, platform attachments and other configurations are available on request.
Ready to Specify Your Stock Picker?
Send us your highest pick face, narrowest aisle and typical load per trip. We will recommend the model honestly — including the times when the smaller machine is the right answer.
Request a quotation → — or email info@outstripindustrial.com, or message us on WhatsApp. Send your maximum working height, aisle width and racking layout, and we will come back with a specific recommendation.
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