What’s happening now
in order picking?
Throughput capacity, accuracy, operator safety and comfort, shorter walking routes, cleanroom and ESD requirements, tugger trains versus AGV/AMR, and a demonstrable ROI. The Multitube portfolio allows you to start small, scale smartly, and keep your layouts flexible as your SKU mix and picking routes evolve.
Why this guide?
Growth in SKU numbers, changing picking routes, and the realities of workforce deployment mean that today’s ideal order pick trolley may need a different layout tomorrow. The Multitube portfolio, with manual order pick trolleys, forklift- and EPT-compatible trolleys, powered pick trolleys, and pick-to-light integrations, allows you to start at the right level and scale up without remanufacturing.
The core is a modular approach based on Tube and Joint and Heavy Duty, enabling quick, low-risk adjustments within your own operation.
Entry level:
light, modular and ergonomic (budget €800–€1,500)
For low to medium volumes and lighter loads, manual order pick trolleys are ideal. They are easy to push, modularly adjustable (levels, flat or slanted shelves, holders for scanners or tablets), and allow rapid layout adjustments when routes or SKU mix change. Create a trolley layout to fit your box standard and picking route, then adjust the number of levels, compartments, and product protection as the process evolves. Typical e-commerce configurations start around €800–€900 for 1000×600 mm sizes and increase with larger dimensions or the addition of a fifth swivel wheel.
Hero
Manual standard, configurable
A 1300×600 mm pick trolley with a fifth swivel wheel is large enough for boxes without becoming unwieldy. The fifth swivel wheel allows tight turning in narrow aisles, while the standard shelf layout enables quick and repeatable picks. This trolley is perfect for a two-week pilot to measure picks per hour, after which you can adjust shelves or box sizes for optimal efficiency.
View the
manual order pick trolleys
Same simplicity,
but pickers work with order pick truck/EPT
If your pickers work with an EPT or order pick truck, choose the Heavy Duty variant with fork pockets and transport magnets (€1,700–€3,300, depending on size and options). The modular multi-level shelves remain; you only add the interfaces required for using electric vehicles.
View trolleys suitable
for electric vehicles
Engineering value
(even at entry level)
Multitube consultants check aisle widths, turning circles, trolley layout, product protection, and wheels to avoid rework and ensure a smooth first implementation.
For those not requiring full engineering, many choices can be made directly in the configurator, such as dimensions, number of levels, fifth swivel wheel, holders, and protection options.
Explore the options
in the configurator
Mid-range:
Power increases speed and reduces strain (investment €4,700–€11,000)
When routes get longer or loads heavier, a powered trolley pays for itself. The E-pick cart series adds a powered wheel (EM500 or esense), battery packs, and intuitive controls, reducing pushing effort, eliminating start/stop friction, and maintaining average walking speed. Users typically see more picks per hour and less ergonomic strain on multi-zone routes.
User favourite
E-pick cart 2600×600, EM500:
The extra length provides space for more boxes without moving to pallet sizes, while the EM500 ensures smooth manoeuvring under load. Choose between interchangeable or fixed batteries. Configure the trolley layout (levels, compartments, protection) to suit your order profile and shift schedule.
Configure the
e-pick cart 2600x600
Engineering value
The added value of engineering
Higher speed, greater safety, and better ergonomics on the shop floor are often the direct result. This is achieved by adjusting handle height and controls to your operators, optimising braking and acceleration, adjusting shelf spacing to your SKUs, and selecting the right battery pack for the shift.
Book an
appointment
High-end:
Multi-order speed and accuracy with PTL (from €12,500; larger on request)
When the focus shifts to accuracy, pick-to-light is the ideal solution. By visually guiding the operator at the trolley, multi-order routes become fast and repeatable: less aimless walking, fewer checks, and fewer incorrect picks. This is often the step change that justifies the extra cost for e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, or electronics. Standard Lowrider variants start around €12,500; larger configurations for 10–20 orders are available on request.
Hero
Intelligent
The E-pick-to-light cart keeps the centre of gravity low and sight lines clear, allowing operators to move smoothly between stops. Multitube engineers map the trolley layout (positions, levels, compartments), integrate controllers and cabling neatly into the frame, and align WMS and device logic with the route. The benefit is not only speed but also quality assurance.
Configure the
E-pick-to-light cart
Try before you buy:
hire a demo
The fastest way to reduce risks is to hire a demo for 2–3 weeks. This can range from manual order pick trolleys and EPT/order pick truck carts to route train carts and E-pick carts. Multitube delivers the demo on site and supports your trial, so you can measure picks per hour, strain, error rates, and route suitability in your own environment before making a final choice.
Book a
demo
ROI: how to demonstrate the investment
An easy way to calculate the ROI of a trolley upgrade:
- Productivity increase = (new picks/hour - current picks/hour) × number of hours × labour costs
- Error cost savings = (current incorrect picks - new incorrect picks) × correction costs
- Ergonomic benefit = less strain, less fatigue (often reflected in more stable output and fewer unplanned stoppages)
- Net ROI = (productivity increase + error cost savings) - capex/lease + accessories + training
Quick signal
- If your longest route becomes noticeably faster with the E-pick cart (up to about 60% faster picking, depending on load/route), this alone can cover lease or depreciation in heavily used zones.
- If your waves regularly contain more than 4–6 orders per route, pick-to-light shortens the time for error corrections and searching, where most error costs occur.
Run a two-week pilot, measure picks per hour, incorrect picks, and pushing effort, then calculate ROI using your own figures.
Best practices
- Define boundaries: aisle width, trolley dimensions/height, typical load, box standard, and requirements for pulling or forklifts.
- Pilot a standard SKU for 2–4 weeks: measure picks per hour, pushing effort, and error rate; then refine trolley layout, levels, and compartments. Multitube’s modularity enables rapid iterations.
- Power where it pays off: long routes/heavy loads → the productivity and ergonomic gains of the e-pick cart usually justify the investment in high-use zones.
- Lights for waves/batch: >4–6 orders per route or high error costs → pick-to-light trolleys.
- Training runs: pull/tugger trolleys (shelves/platform/pallet) improve handling efficiency before full AGV or AMR solutions are deployed.
- Use experienced advice: Multitube engineers optimise fork and pull interfaces, trolley layout (levels, compartments, protection), and battery/light logic. These consultancy hours often pay back quickly via higher throughput, improved safety, and fewer iterations.
Multitube: one modular base, all picking solutions
Multitube covers the full spectrum: from competitive, configurable standards to powered pick trolleys and pick-to-light solutions. Start with an entry-level manual trolley when routes are short and loads light; move to the E-pick cart when distance and weight increase; add pick-to-light when accuracy and wave throughput are limiting factors. Since the same modular design is used across the range, your options remain open and you upgrade the trolley, not the entire concept.
Order picking for every workflow
Start a project together?
At Multitube, we believe in close and lasting relationships. Our best performance comes when we can work intensively and long-term with you. Together, we build a successful future for your organisation!
Prefer direct contact?
Would you rather discuss directly with a specialist? Contact me via the details below.
