High-Bay Stacker Cranes
Automated storage and retrieval for high-density warehouses
High-Bay Stacker Cranes
Automated storage and retrieval for high-density warehouses
High-Bay Automated Storage
Alstef Group designs and integrates high-bay stacker crane systems for automated pallet warehouses. As the core equipment of an Automated Storage & Retrieval System (AS/RS), stacker cranes automatically store and retrieve loads with high precision, high throughput and maximum reliability.
Each system is engineered to meet the specific requirements of your warehouse, from storage capacity and throughput to load characteristics and operating environment.
Make full use of available warehouse space with high-density automated storage.
Fast storage and retrieval cycles with single or double-load handling, ensuring continuous material flow even in high-volume operations.
Stacker cranes are ideal for tall, high-capacity warehouses up to 45 metres needing reliability for continuous, intensive operations. This high-bay approach is used, for example, at LSDH's L'Abeille 2 facility, where eight 35-metre stacker cranes serve more than 40,000 storage locations.
Discover LSDH's Storage System
What is a stacker crane?
A stacker crane is the core of an AS/RS high-bay warehouse. It automatically stores and retrieves goods from racking structures up to 45 meters high, ensuring continuous and accurate inventory handling.
Running along dedicated storage aisles, it combines horizontal travel, vertical lifting and load handling to move pallets or other unit loads between inbound or outbound conveyor systems and storage locations.
Controlled by the Warehouse Control System (WCS) and connected to the Warehouse Management System (WMS), stacker cranes execute storage and retrieval missions automatically while ensuring complete inventory traceability and optimised material flows.
Stacker crane configurations
Every warehouse has unique operational requirements. Alstef Group designs stacker cranes in multiple configurations to optimise storage capacity, throughput and investment.
Single or double load handling
Depending on throughput requirements, stacker cranes can transport one or two unit loads during the same cycle, reducing travel time and increasing system overall productivity.
Single, double or multi-deep storage
Different storage depths can be implemented according to the required balance between storage density and accessibility.
• Single-deep offers direct access to every pallet.
• Double-deep increases storage capacity while maintaining high throughput.
• Multi-deep configurations, using satellite technology, maximise storage density for buffer or mass storage applications.
Custom warehouse dimensions
Our stacker cranes are designed to match each installation, with warehouse heights of up to 45 metres, various aisle lengths and payload capacities adapted to your products.
Applications and operating capabilities
Every stacker crane system is engineered according to the products it handles, the warehouse configuration and the operating environment. From load types and storage applications to environmental constraints, each solution is tailored to meet the specific requirements of your operation.
Stacker cranes can manage a wide variety of unit loads across numerous industrial sectors. Typical load types include: Standard pallets, Industrial pallets, Plastic or metal containers, Bins and totes, Cartons, Paper reels, Special load carriers. Each solution is engineered according to the dimensions, weight and handling requirements of your products.
Stacker cranes are particularly suited to warehouses requiring high storage capacity, continuous operation and reliable inventory management, such as high-density mass storage, production buffer storage, shipping buffers... They are commonly deployed in industries such as food & beverage, consumer goods, logistics, paper, chemicals and manufacturing.
Stacker cranes can operate reliably in a wide range of industrial environments, including ambient warehouses, chilled and frozen storage, humidity-controlled facilities, heavy-duty industrial applications. Their robust design ensures consistent performance even under demanding operating conditions. For example, at Les Crudettes' fresh logistics platform, twelve stacker cranes operate in a temperature-controlled environment at +2/+4°C, serving nearly 15,000 storage locations.
Discover Les Crudettes' Cold Storage SolutionA core element of smart warehouse automation
Stacker cranes are fully integrated into Alstef Group’s end-to-end warehousing solutions, connecting seamlessly with:
- Warehouse Management Software (WMS)
- Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and AMRs
- Conveyor and sortation systems
- Order Picking systems
This creates a cohesive, automated ecosystem that boosts warehouse performance and ensures smooth material flow.
Stacker Cranes FAQ
Technical and project questions about stacker cranes and automated storage integration, modernisation and lifecycle support.
Alstef Group stacker cranes can be designed for high-bay warehouses up to 45 metres high. The exact dimensions of the system depend on the building, storage capacity, load characteristics and required throughput.
Both technologies automate storage and retrieval of pallets and heavy loads, but they operate differently. A stacker crane travels horizontally and vertically within a dedicated aisle to access storage locations. Shuttle systems use independent vehicles operating within the racking. The most suitable technology depends on factors such as required throughput, storage density, building configuration and scalability requirements.
Yes. Stacker crane systems can be engineered for temperature-controlled environments, including chilled and frozen warehouses. Components and system design are adapted to the required operating conditions.
Stacker cranes can handle pallets as well as other unit loads such as containers, bins, cartons, paper reels and special load carriers. The load-handling device is selected according to the dimensions, weight and characteristics of the products being stored.
The stacker crane is integrated with the warehouse's other automated systems, such as conveyors, AGVs and order picking equipment. It is controlled by a Warehouse Control System (WCS), which coordinates equipment movements, and can be connected to a Warehouse Management System (WMS) for inventory and order management.
Yes. Existing stacker crane systems can be modernized to extend their service life, improve performance and availability, or address component obsolescence. Depending on the installation, modernization can include control systems, electrical equipment, software, safety systems and mechanical components. Alstef Group can assess existing equipment and define a retrofit strategy adapted to operational requirements, including systems originally supplied by other manufacturers.