What Information Is Required for a stacker crane system Quotation? A quotation for a stacker crane system is a technical and commercial proposal based on your warehouse dimensions, storage objectives, load characteristics, operating requirements, and safety conditions. Providing accurate information allows UNISTAR to select the correct stacker crane, rack configuration, conveyor interface, warehouse control system, and installation scope. A complete data package helps your business avoid budget overruns, equipment rework, and delays during commissioning.
A stacker crane system, also called an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), uses a crane mast, load-handling device, rails, drives, sensors, and control software to store and retrieve pallets or cartons in high-density racking. It is commonly used in manufacturing, cold-chain logistics, distribution centers, spare-parts warehouses, and e-commerce fulfillment operations.
The quotation stage is not simply a request for a product price. It is the first phase of system engineering. A supplier must calculate the required lifting capacity, travel speed, storage positions, throughput, aisle geometry, rack loading, and automation architecture before selecting equipment.
For example, a warehouse requiring 40 pallet movements per hour may need a different crane configuration from a facility requiring 120 movements per hour. A 1,000 kg pallet with a 1,200 mm load depth also creates different mechanical and safety requirements from a 500 kg carton tote.
Accurate input data supports:
Correct crane capacity and mast height selection
Reliable throughput and cycle-time calculations
Suitable rack and aisle design
Accurate conveyor and transfer-station sizing
Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Warehouse Control System (WCS) integration
More dependable project cost, lead-time, and return-on-investment estimates
The first requirement is a clear understanding of the installation environment. Submit architectural drawings, CAD files, or dimensioned sketches whenever possible.
Building length, width, and clear internal height
Available floor area and proposed rack footprint
Column positions, wall locations, doors, windows, and fire exits
Floor flatness, levelness, load-bearing capacity, and slab thickness
Roof structure, sprinkler systems, lighting, and ventilation
Ambient temperature, humidity, dust, and corrosive conditions
Loading dock positions and available space for staging or installation
Seismic, wind, or local construction requirements
Floor conditions are particularly important. Rail-mounted stacker cranes require an installation surface that meets the specified tolerance. The quotation should identify whether floor surveying, leveling, grouting, embedded plates, or civil modifications are included.
The load unit is the product handled by the crane. A supplier cannot safely size the load-handling device without knowing the load unit’s dimensions and weight.
| Required data | Examples | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pallet type | Euro pallet, ISO pallet, plastic pallet, custom carrier | Determines fork design and rack compatibility |
| Load dimensions | Length, width, height, overhang | Defines storage position and aisle clearance |
| Load weight | Minimum, average, and maximum gross weight | Determines rated capacity and drive selection |
| Load stability | Wrapped, boxed, bagged, liquid, irregular | Affects fork support and anti-fall protection |
| Carrier condition | Damaged pallets, reusable pallets, disposable pallets | May require pallet inspection or rejection logic |
Always provide the maximum gross load, not only the product weight. The gross load can include the pallet, packaging, containers, labels, and any temporary handling fixture. If several pallet types are used, list each one separately.
To prepare a stacker crane system quotation, UNISTAR needs the required storage capacity and inventory profile. Important information includes:
Total pallet positions or carton locations required
Number of SKUs and average inventory per SKU
ABC classification and product turnover rate
Single-depth, double-depth, or multiple-depth storage preference
Required FIFO, LIFO, FEFO, or batch-management logic
Future expansion targets, such as 20% additional capacity
Required fire compartments or temperature zones
Storage density should not be considered in isolation. A very deep rack layout may increase capacity but reduce accessibility and complicate inventory control. The best design balances cubic utilization, throughput, SKU accessibility, safety, and lifecycle cost.
Throughput describes how many storage and retrieval operations the system must complete within a defined period. This is one of the most important inputs in a quotation.
Specify:
Inbound pallets per hour
Outbound pallets per hour
Peak hourly throughput and average daily throughput
Number of operating shifts per day
Operating days per year
Required response time or order completion time
Simultaneous inbound and outbound requirements
Expected future throughput growth
Use actual peak data rather than only daily averages. A facility processing 500 pallets per day may still require high-performance equipment if most orders arrive during a two-hour peak period.
The quotation should clearly define mechanical performance requirements, including:
Maximum lifting height and storage height
Travel and hoisting speeds
Acceleration and deceleration profiles
Positioning accuracy and repeatability
Single-deep or double-deep load-handling equipment
Telescopic fork or satellite load-handling device
Required aisle width and rail arrangement
Maintenance access and emergency evacuation provisions
Some projects specify positioning precision to 0.01 mm; however, the achievable value depends on the encoder, servo system, mechanical tolerances, load condition, and project specification. The quotation should distinguish between positioning resolution, repeatability, and practical load placement accuracy.
A modern stacker crane is part of an integrated intralogistics solution. Identify the software and communication requirements at the quotation stage.
Existing WMS, ERP, MES, or host system
Required WCS or material flow control functions
Communication protocol, such as TCP/IP, OPC UA, or REST API
Barcode, RFID, vision, or dimensioning requirements
Automatic pallet identification and validation
Inventory traceability and transaction history
Remote diagnostics and user access levels
Reporting, dashboard, and performance-monitoring requirements
State whether UNISTAR is expected to supply only the crane or the complete turnkey solution, including rack, conveyors, scanners, PLC, WCS, software integration, safety fencing, and commissioning.
Safety requirements must be agreed before detailed engineering begins. Depending on the project location, the quotation may need to address applicable local regulations, CE-related requirements, electrical codes, machine guarding rules, and customer-specific standards.
Ask the supplier to identify the intended design and testing basis. Relevant references may include:
EN 528 for rail dependent storage and retrieval equipment, where applicable
EN ISO 13849-1 for safety-related control systems
IEC 60204-1 for electrical equipment of machinery
DIN or ISO tolerances for fabricated and installed components
ASTM material or coating tests where those specifications apply
Local fire, seismic, electrical, and occupational safety regulations
Do not assume that a general “quality guarantee” covers every component. Request the inspection and acceptance plan, including dimensional inspection, welding inspection, load testing, safety-device testing, software testing, and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).
A responsible supplier should be able to document inspection scope. For example, a project may specify 100% inspection of critical welds or safety circuits, dimensional checks recorded in an inspection report, and a defined Site Acceptance Test (SAT). A 24-hour response policy for technical questions or service incidents should also be stated in writing rather than assumed.
It is not. Two buildings with identical floor areas may have completely different capacities because of clear height, column spacing, floor loading, fire zones, and throughput requirements.
A crane-only price may exclude racking, conveyors, controls, software integration, transportation, installation, civil work, taxes, training, and spare parts. Ask for a detailed scope-of-supply matrix.
Peak demand, order clustering, replenishment patterns, and simultaneous operations can determine the number of cranes and transfer stations. Provide both average and peak operating data.
Damaged, warped, undersized, or unstable pallets can cause misalignment and equipment stoppages. If pallet quality varies, include pallet inspection, reject handling, or pallet transfer equipment in the specification.
Resolution, repeatability, and absolute accuracy are different engineering terms. Ask how the stated value is measured, under what load, and according to which acceptance method.
Consider a food manufacturer planning a temperature-controlled pallet warehouse. The company provides the following data:
Building clear height: 18 m
Required capacity: 3,000 pallet positions
Pallet size: 1,200 × 1,000 mm
Maximum gross pallet weight: 1,000 kg
Average throughput: 45 pallet movements per hour
Peak throughput: 75 pallet movements per hour
Operating profile: 20 hours per day, 6 days per week
Storage policy: FIFO and batch traceability
Environment: -25°C cold storage
Interface: existing ERP connected to a new WCS
With this information, UNISTAR can evaluate low-temperature-rated components, lubrication, battery or power-collection design, rack configuration, crane quantity, transfer-station capacity, insulation interfaces, and software integration. Without the temperature and peak-throughput data, the initial quotation could be technically unsuitable even if the price appeared attractive.
Prepare a quotation package in the following order:
Send a dimensioned warehouse layout and site photographs.
List every pallet, tote, or load-unit variation.
Provide capacity, SKU, inventory, and throughput data.
Describe required storage rules and order priorities.
State environmental, safety, and regulatory conditions.
Define software, communication, and host-system interfaces.
Request a line-by-line scope of supply and exclusions.
Confirm FAT, SAT, warranty, spare parts, training, and service response terms.
For efficient technical communication, use a standard data sheet and ask the supplier to identify missing information, assumptions, and optional items. A professional quotation should show equipment specifications, performance calculations, layout assumptions, delivery schedule, installation responsibilities, payment terms, and acceptance criteria.
What Information Is Required for a Stacker Crane System Quotation? In summary, the essential information includes the building layout, load-unit dimensions and weight, required storage capacity, throughput profile, rack arrangement, crane performance, operating environment, safety standards, automation interfaces, and project scope.
The more complete the input data, the more reliable the proposed stacker crane system, project budget, delivery schedule, and return-on-investment calculation will be. By sharing precise technical requirements with UNISTAR, warehouse operators can move from a generic equipment price to a practical, compliant, and scalable AS/RS solution.
Before requesting your quotation, gather your drawings, load data, throughput records, software requirements, and site conditions. Then ask UNISTAR to validate the assumptions and provide a detailed technical-commercial proposal.
