Electric Stacker: Duplex or Triplex Mast? HELI CDD Model Guide 2026

13 models, 13 combinations of height and capacity

An electric stacker (also called an electric pallet stacker) is not a single product — it is a category with wide variation in lift height, capacity and price. The HELI CDD range sold by HandlerKraft covers 13 different models, from 1,200 kg / 2,500 mm lift at €2,990 up to 2,000 kg / 5,400 mm lift at €11,930. Choosing the wrong model means either a machine that cannot reach the top shelf, or money spent on capacity or height you do not need.

Duplex vs Triplex: the technical difference to understand before you buy

The mast of an electric stacker is built from 2 or 3 telescopic sections that extend vertically:

• Duplex mast — 2 sections. Offers lift heights of up to about 3,500 mm in the HandlerKraft range. Simpler construction, more affordable price, very good stability at moderate heights.
• Triplex mast — 3 telescopic sections. Allows much greater lift heights — up to 5,400 mm in the HELI CDD range — while keeping the machine compact. It is the mandatory solution when you need to stack on 3-4 racking levels.

In the HandlerKraft range, the CDD12R-S M300, CDD15J-Li M300 and the CURTIS variants CDD15J M250 / M350 use a Duplex mast. The ZSM family — CDD15J-Li ZSM460, CDD16-A2LiH ZSM540, CDD20-A2LiH ZSM480, CDD20-A2LIH ZSM540 — plus the CDD15J M400 use a Triplex mast.

The complete HELI CDD range at HandlerKraft

How to choose by racking and ceiling height

The basic rule, which also applies to forklifts: lift height should exceed the highest racking level you serve by at least 200 mm. Based on the HELI CDD range, you can guide your choice as follows:

• 2,500 – 3,000 mm (CDD12J M250/M300, CDD15J M250, CDD15J-Li M300) — suitable for warehouses with 1-2 racking levels and a ceiling up to 3.5 m
• 3,500 – 4,000 mm (CDD15J M350, CDD15J-Li M350, CDD15J M400) — suitable for medium racking, ceiling 4-4.5 m
• 4,600 – 5,400 mm (ZSM460, ZSM480, ZSM500, ZSM540) — mandatory for high racking on 3-4 levels, ceiling from 5.5-6 m upward. At these heights the Triplex mast is no longer optional — it is the only construction that keeps the machine stable

How to choose by capacity

Lift capacity across the HELI CDD range falls into three clear tiers:

• 1,200 kg (CDD12 series) — enough for most pallets in food, FMCG or pharmaceutical warehouses
• 1,500 – 1,600 kg (CDD15/CDD16 series) — covers most demand in general distribution warehouses, light building materials and furniture
• 2,000 kg (CDD20 series) — for heavy pallets, bulky materials, or operations with little margin for error on capacity

Why the price ranges from €2,990 to €11,930 — what you pay extra for

The difference of almost €9,000 between the most affordable and the most expensive model in the CDD range is not accidental. Four factors explain it:

• Mast height — moving from 2,500-3,000 mm (Duplex) to 4,600-5,400 mm (Triplex) requires a much sturdier mast and frame
• Battery capacity — from 2×12V/100Ah on entry-level models to 24V/300Ah on the CDD20-A2LIH ZSM540, to sustain full work cycles at greater heights and loads
• Controller — entry-level models use a Heli or CURTIS controller; the CDD20-A2LIH ZSM540 uses a ZAPI controller, the industry's premium standard for precision and durability
• Operator platform — models with an "R" in the name, such as the CDD12R-S M300, include a platform the operator stands on while travelling, which raises the price significantly compared with an equivalent model without a platform (CDD12J M300: €2,990 vs CDD12R-S M300: €5,400, both 1,200 kg / 3,000 mm)

Real scenarios from warehouses in Moldova

Scenario 1 — Small food warehouse, 3 m racking: Pallets of 400-800 kg, one extra stacking level above the warehouse floor. Recommendation: CDD12J M250 or M300 (€2,990) — enough capacity and height, the most affordable entry point in the range.

Scenario 2 — Distribution warehouse, 4 m racking: Pallets of 800-1,500 kg, stacking needed on 2-3 levels. Recommendation: CDD15J M400 (Triplex, 4,000 mm, €3,600) — the optimal balance of height, capacity and price.

Scenario 3 — Logistics warehouse with high racking, 5-6 m: Pallets up to 2,000 kg, stacking on 3-4 levels, intensive daily use. Recommendation: CDD20-A2LiH ZSM480 or CDD20-A2LIH ZSM540, depending on the exact height of the top level — 4,800 mm or 5,400 mm respectively.

Conclusion

With 13 models in the range, HandlerKraft covers practically any combination of height and capacity for a warehouse in Moldova. The key is to start from two exact numbers — the real height of your top racking level and the typical weight of the pallets you handle — not from a budget or from "what seems enough". A Duplex mast at 3,000 mm cannot later be extended to 5,400 mm; the choice has to be right the first time.