Container Stacker

Empty Container Stacker Lifting Cylinder

Stacking empty containers 5, 6, even 8 high demands a lifting cylinder with extreme stroke — up to 9.5 metres of vertical travel. The lifting cylinder is the main driving force that raises and lowers the carriage along the mast, carrying the container from ground level to the top of the stack and back again, 200+ times per shift.

85–220mmBore

≤9,500mmStroke

25 MPaPressure

Main LiftFunction

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Product Name	Empty Container Stacker Lifting Cylinder
Features	Main driving force for lifting and lowering containers
Bore Diameter	85 mm – 220 mm
Rod Diameter	6 mm – 180 mm
Stroke	Up to 9,500 mm
Working Pressure	Maximum 25 MPa
Application	Empty Container Stacker

Why 9,500 mm Stroke — Stacking Containers to Maximum Height

Empty Container Stacker Lifting Cylinder

A standard shipping container is 2,591 mm (8'6") tall. Stacking 5 containers requires lifting the top container to approximately 10.5 metres. Stacking 6 high requires 13+ metres. The lifting cylinder must travel the full mast height in a single stroke — and a 9,500 mm stroke cylinder, used in a chain or pulley multiplication system (typically 2:1 or 3:1 ratio), achieves the required lifting height.

The lifting cylinder operates continuously — 200–400 lift cycles per shift in a busy port. Every cycle is a full extension and retraction at maximum speed. This makes fatigue life, seal longevity, and rod surface durability the critical design parameters — more important than raw force output.

The wide bore range (85–220 mm) covers stackers from small yard handlers (3-high stacking, 85 mm bore) to large terminal stackers (8-high stacking, 220 mm bore). Browse the offshore hydraulic cylinder range for all container handling products.

Key Advantages of the Lifting Cylinder

⏱ High-cycle fatigue design — rated for 500,000+ full-stroke cycles. The barrel, rod, and seals are specified for the continuous-duty cycle profile of port container handling (200–400 cycles per shift, 2–3 shifts per day, 350+ days per year).
Long rod straightness — the 9,500 mm rod must be straight to ≤0.1 mm/m (≤0.95 mm TIR) across its entire length. Any rod deflection at this stroke length causes uneven seal wear and premature leakage.
Easy field maintenance — the lifting cylinder is the most frequently serviced component on a stacker. Korea Ever-Power designs the seal arrangement for field replacement without removing the cylinder from the mast — saving hours of downtime.
️ Chrome or ceramic rod coating — the exposed rod surface on a stacker is subject to dust, rain, and salt air in port environments. Hard chrome (standard) or ceramic (HVOF) coating protects against corrosion and abrasion.

Lifting Cylinder OEM & ODM

Provide the stacker model, maximum stacking height, container weight (empty: 2.2–3.8 tonnes), mast type (duplex/triplex/quad), and chain/pulley ratio. Korea Ever-Power delivers the lifting cylinder individually or as part of the complete stacker cylinder set. Contact the Korea Ever-Power hydraulic cylinder team.

FAQ

How does a 9,500 mm stroke cylinder achieve 13+ metre stacking height?

The cylinder is used in a chain or pulley multiplication system — typically 2:1 ratio (9.5 m stroke × 2 = 19 m travel) or 3:1. The multiplication ratio is determined by the mast type (duplex, triplex, or quad).

How many lifting cylinders does a stacker use?

Typically 1–2 lifting cylinders per mast. Single-cylinder designs use one large cylinder with a chain equalisation system. Dual-cylinder designs use 2 smaller cylinders, one on each side of the mast.

What is the expected seal life in port conditions?

With proper hydraulic oil cleanliness (NAS 7–8) and rod surface integrity, seal life is typically 4,000–8,000 operating hours. Port environments with high dust or salt exposure may reduce seal life — hard chrome or ceramic rod coating extends it.

Can the lifting cylinder handle rapid cycling?

Yes — cycle times of 15–25 seconds (full raise + lower) are standard for empty container operations. The cylinder port sizing and valve configuration are optimised for high flow rate to achieve the required cycle speed.

Can all 4 stacker cylinders be ordered together?

Yes — tilt (#20), lifting (#21), steering (#22), and side shift (#23) are available as a coordinated package. Browse the offshore hydraulic cylinder range.

What Our Customers Say

★★★★★Jun 2026

"The 9,200 mm stroke lifting cylinders on our 6-high stacker have completed an estimated 180,000 cycles in 10 months. No seal leakage, no rod wear visible under magnification. Significantly better durability than our previous cylinders."

S. Chen — Port Maintenance Director, Chinese container terminal

★★★★★Feb 2026

"We replaced the lifting cylinders on 4 stackers simultaneously. Korea Ever-Power delivered all 8 cylinders (2 per stacker) in a single batch with matched serial numbers. Dimensional consistency across the batch was excellent."

M. Garcia — Equipment Procurement, Spanish port authority

★★★★☆Oct 2025

"Good lifting cylinders at a competitive price. The field-serviceable seal design saved us 3 hours per cylinder change compared to our previous cylinders that required full removal from the mast."

T. Mbeki — Workshop Foreman, South African container depot

★★★★★Jul 2025

"The ceramic rod coating on the lifting cylinder is proving its value in our coastal port — salt air and dust combination was killing our hard-chrome rods in 18 months. The ceramic rods are still smooth after 14 months."

H. Yamamoto — Quality Manager, Japanese container terminal

★★★★★Mar 2025

"Complete stacker cylinder set (tilt + lifting + steering + side shift) for 2 new stackers. Single supplier, single order, single delivery. Korea Ever-Power handled the logistics efficiently."

D. Kumar — Project Engineer, Indian port development