In today's increasingly intensive and high-density internal logistics environment, high-bay automated warehouses are quietly rewriting the logic of warehousing: with land prices soaring, companies have no choice but to make their warehouses "grow taller and denser." Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) three-way stacking forklifts have become a key piece of equipment for high-density storage in this international context – transporting both the forks and the operator to heights of over ten meters, even approaching 20 meters, in aisles less than 2 meters wide, enabling dense stacking and high-level picking between narrow aisle racks.
Over the past few decades, European, North American, Japanese, and Chinese companies have continuously invested in the VNA field, focusing on "who can lift higher" and "whose aisles are narrower." Lifting heights have been constantly pushed higher, from 14-16 meters, to 17-18 meters, and then to the publicly stated 19 meters. Meanwhile, Chinese domestic brands have also pushed the lifting height of man-up three-way stacking forklifts to over 18 meters, accelerating their pursuit in the 13-18.5 meter height range, attempting to break the long-standing dominance of European and Japanese brands.
According to incomplete statistics from China Forklift Network, there are currently more than 50 companies worldwide involved in the research and development and manufacturing of VNA narrow-aisle forklifts. These include traditional industrial vehicle giants, as well as specialized manufacturers and logistics system integrators focusing on high-density warehousing scenarios, with increasingly diverse technical routes and product forms.
It is important to emphasize that the VNA system includes both man-up and man-down three-way stacking forklifts. Both forms have coexisted in the global market for a long time; neither has replaced the other. While acknowledging that man-down forklifts also play an important role in high-lift and automation projects, this article focuses on man-up three-way stacking forklifts, where the operator ascends with the forks, and explores how their lifting height has been continuously "increased" in high-density storage.
History of VNA
The concept of narrow aisle, high-rack operation can be traced back to the mid-20th century. Around 1949, the Raymond team in the United States developed narrow-aisle vehicles for operating on higher shelves within narrower aisles, and is widely considered one of the pioneers of the modern narrow-aisle material handling concept. As the demand for "vertical space utilization" in European and American warehouses rapidly increased, narrow-aisle technology began to develop systematically in the 1950s and 1960s.
In the UK, Lansing Bagnall introduced "turret trucks" such as the FAES1 in the 1960s: the forks could rotate and extend to both sides of the shelves, and the driver would ascend and descend with the operating platform, allowing for stacking and picking in narrow aisles. These 名媛直播 are considered early prototypes of modern "three-way man-up stackers." From then on, forklifts were no longer just "low-level handling tools," but became core equipment for high-bay automated storage systems, working in conjunction with shelving systems.
The concept of "VNA" (Very Narrow Aisle) as an independent technology gradually became clear in the late 1970s and early 1980s. German company STILL, in its corporate history, considers the EFSG-MX, launched in 1979, as its first true VNA forklift, capable of high-level stacking in extremely narrow aisles. Subsequently, Jungheinrich introduced the EKX series of high-level three-way stackers, and Linde developed the K series VNA combination vehicles, where the man-up cab rises and falls synchronously with the forks during high-level operations; Swedish BT and Japanese Toyota Material Handling formed the BT Vector series VNA product line, further refining ultra-narrow aisle solutions. It can be said that VNA has had a strong "systems engineering" attribute from the beginning: it's not just a single vehicle, but a combination of "vehicle + shelving + guidance."
The differentiation between "man-up" and "man-down" is an important indicator of the maturity of VNA technology. Man-up refers to the operator ascending and descending with the cab, performing stacking and picking between high-level shelves over ten meters high; man-down means the driver remains on the ground, performing high-level operations through telescopic masts and three-way forks. The former is suitable for high-level picking and precise operations, while the latter is more geared towards pallet handling and automation upgrades. In the global market, these two types of VNA forklifts have coexisted for a long time, and many man-down models can also reach lifting heights of 15-17 meters or even higher, often delivered as part of a system package with stacker cranes and shuttle cars. This article focuses on the operational methods and technical challenges brought about by "man-on-board" operation, specifically discussing the height breakthroughs of man-up VNA three-way stacker forklifts.
From a global development perspective, the evolution of VNA forklifts essentially follows the same logic: with the development of high-bay warehouses, palletization, and increased automation, warehouses are constantly "growing taller and becoming more densely packed," and forklift technology is evolving accordingly towards higher and narrower designs. The 18-meter and 19-meter VNA three-way man-up stacker forklifts we discuss today are the product of this technological route reaching an advanced stage.
Users
If we condense the height competition of VNA three-way stacker forklifts into a timeline, we see multiple brands continuously pushing the height to new levels in different years, while also competing for the claim of "who was the first to reach 19 meters."
In the high-lift range, Germany's Magaziner has been one of the most "high-profile" companies in recent years. In July 2024, the company published a news release on its website titled "Tallest VNA forklift truck in the world," announcing that the EK 2000 XL uses a two-section high-rigidity mast to achieve a fork height of 19 meters, and claiming it as "the world's first narrow-aisle forklift with a fork height of 19 meters." This official announcement gave Magaziner significant industry attention regarding the 19-meter milestone.
Looking back in time, the Japanese brand Mitsubishi Logisnext actually offered a mass-produced 19-meter solution earlier. On May 28, 2020, Cat Lift Trucks in Europe released a press release officially launching the NVT11–20(XL) series of man-up three-way VNA forklifts. The company explicitly stated that this series offers a "maximum lifting height of up to 19 meters" and a load capacity of 1.1 to 2.0 tons. Subsequently, Mitsubishi Forklift, belonging to the same group, released the ELEViA VNT11–20(XL) series in Europe, with its specifications also indicating a "maximum lifting height of 19 meters," positioning it as a "true VNA expert." By 2024, TCM also launched the VTU series of man-up VNA forklifts in Europe, emphasizing in its official materials that it can achieve a 19-meter lifting height in narrow aisles of approximately 1.6 meters, completing the group's product portfolio at this height range.
Chronologically, Magaziner prominently announced the EK 2000 XL as the world's first 19-meter VNA in 2024; however, the Mitsubishi Logisnext system (Cat/Mitsubishi/TCM) had already offered 19-meter standard configurations in its brochures and news releases since 2020. This explains the differing opinions in the industry regarding "who achieved 19 meters first": Magaziner focused on the release of a specific new product platform, while Cat and Mitsubishi had already offered the same height at the product family level earlier, without specifically using "world's first" as their main promotional theme.
In the 18-meter height range, Jungheinrich and Linde have long held an advantage in engineering projects and sales. Jungheinrich's EKX 4/5 series of three-way man-up stackers covers lifting heights from approximately 3 meters to 18 meters, with a rated load of 1.0 to 1.6 tons, and includes cold storage and automated versions (such as the EKX 516ka/516a), which have been operating in numerous automated narrow-aisle warehouses in Europe for a long time. Linde K-series VNA forklifts demonstrate high stacking efficiency in high-bay warehouse environments, utilizing auxiliary systems such as active stability control to suppress swaying during high-altitude driving and lifting. They also have a high penetration rate in European high-bay automated warehouse projects.
Beyond this height range, Raymond, Crown, and Toyota Material Handling have also been deeply involved in the VNA market for many years. Raymond positions itself as the "creator of the narrow-aisle concept," with its turret truck and man-down VNA solutions widely used in North American automated warehouses; Toyota covers various operating conditions, including man-up and man-down, with 名媛直播 such as the BT Vector and Core Electric Turret Forklift, forming a product portfolio that balances efficiency and return on investment in the 14-16 meter height range. In mature markets in Europe and the US, VNA is already a "platform-based, family-oriented" product, rather than just one or two "star models."
In the global VNA market landscape, Jungheinrich is often considered one of the most representative companies in this field. Public data shows that the EKX 5 series once held nearly 40% of the high-end man-up narrow-aisle market share, and multiple official and partner channels repeatedly emphasize its leading position in VNA solutions. In terms of sales volume and project coverage, Jungheinrich can be considered the typical "champion player" in the sales and application of VNA three-way stacking forklifts.
Among Chinese companies, Hefei MiMA is one of the most noteworthy domestic representatives in the VNA segment. Founded in 1994, MiMA has long focused on ultra-narrow aisle electric forklifts. As early as 2007, it pioneered the research and mass production of domestically produced stand-up three-way stacking forklifts, and is considered by many industry reports as a pioneer in domestic ultra-narrow aisle electric forklifts. At the end of 2024, MiMA announced the successful development of China's first 1.2-ton double-deep man-up three-way forklift, the MCC12, which was shipped to a customer for trial use, marking the starting point for mass production of "VNA + double-deep racking" solutions in China. In 2025, MiMA launched the MCC12 and MCC16185 in its new product release: the former is positioned as a standardized 1.2-ton man-up three-way reach truck with a minimum aisle width of only approximately 1.45 meters and an optional lifting height of around 17 meters; the latter, with a rated load of 1.6 tons and a lifting height of approximately 18.5 meters, is hailed as "the highest-reaching man-up three-way reach truck from a Chinese brand," marking the first time that domestically produced VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) forklifts have approached the lifting height of top international brands.
Among domestic VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) manufacturers, Zhuoyi started relatively early. Based on currently available information, Zhuoyi's systematic layout of man-down three-way VNA 名媛直播 can be traced back to November 2019 – at the 2019 China CAWD Entrepreneur Annual Conference and the 2019 China Yiwu International Intelligent Equipment Expo, they launched the VDA man-down three-way forklift, with a maximum lifting height of 9.5 meters and a rated load of 1.6 tons, and a minimum aisle width of approximately 1.55 meters, targeting ultra-narrow aisle high-density storage scenarios; in December 2021, Zhuoyi held a narrow-aisle series product technology exchange meeting in Suzhou, officially launching the VUE man-up three-way forklift, with a maximum lifting height of 13.5 meters, filling the application gap in the 10-13.5 meter high-bay warehouse range; building on this, in August 2025, Zhuoyi released a new man-up three-way VNA model with a maximum lifting height of 18 meters and a rated load of 1.6 tons, and held an off-line ceremony. In the same month, it was disclosed that the first batch of these 18-meter models had been delivered to European customers, achieving a tiered product layout for narrow-aisle applications from 9.5 meters to 18 meters. At the same time, Zhuoyi's VNA unmanned three-way AGV intelligent forklifts have also performed remarkably in the market, with over a hundred units delivered.
China has seen a multi-faceted development in the VNA field;
Heli, in March 2025, launched a 1.5-ton man-up three-way stacker at the ProMat logistics exhibition in Chicago, USA, with a maximum lifting height of up to 13 meters; its subsidiary, Heli Yufeng (formerly Yufeng Intelligent), was the first to launch a narrow-aisle three-way forklift AGV in 2015, and achieved the full-line launch of laser-guided three-way forklift AGVs in 2019, which are widely used in high-density warehousing scenarios such as cold chain, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Hangcha first unveiled its 1.4-1.6 ton man-up lithium-ion three-way stacker at the Beijing BICES construction machinery exhibition in September 2023. The VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) system primarily covers 10-11 meters, with the lifting height extended to approximately 13 meters using a high-reach forward-moving forklift.
In recent years, Noblelift Intelligent has continuously improved its VNA product line, focusing on narrow-aisle high-density warehousing. Represented by the OPX series three-way stacker, which was officially launched around 2022, the OPX15 has a rated load of 1.5 tons, a lifting height covering approximately 5.5-13 meters, and a channel width that can be narrowed to about 1.7 meters. Some models are equipped with a 48V/900Ah large-capacity battery, meeting the dense storage needs of medium-to-high-level automated warehouses while balancing high lifting capacity and long battery life. In November 2025, Noblelift launched the OPK15 man-up three-way stacker, further increasing the lifting height to 16.28 meters. It supports both sitting and standing operation modes, and the driver's area accessories can be flexibly adjusted according to warehouse racking configurations and operating habits. It is positioned as an expert-level VNA solution for ultra-high racking and customized working conditions.
Ruyi first unveiled its 1.5-ton Xilin narrow-aisle three-way forklift at the Shanghai CeMAT Asia logistics exhibition in October 2018, marking the company's official entry into the VNA high-density warehousing market segment. This forklift is designed for narrow aisle conditions of approximately 1.7-1.8 meters, significantly improving warehouse space utilization through its three-way rotating fork head and high-strength mast. Subsequently, Ruyi launched the man-up OPTS15 model based on this platform, extending the lifting height to approximately 13 meters, allowing operators to ascend simultaneously with the forks, enabling simultaneous picking and stacking within a single aisle, making it more suitable for high-rack dense storage needs in industries such as auto parts, e-commerce, and cold chain logistics. Around 2020, Zhongli incorporated the CTL15 man-down ultra-narrow aisle (VNA) three-way stacker into its product portfolio. In 2024, distributors in markets such as Russia are still heavily promoting the "new" EP CTL15. This model has a rated load of 1.5 tons, a maximum lifting height of 13 meters, and is suitable for aisle widths of approximately 1740 mm. Equipped with a 48V lithium battery system and a three-way fork head, it can achieve multi-directional high-level storage and retrieval in high-bay warehouses and narrow-aisle racking systems, significantly improving warehouse capacity utilization and picking efficiency.
Youn was one of the first domestic companies to obtain a VNA manufacturing license, having launched its aisle-type three-way stacker at the Canton Fair in May 2008. Notably, its predecessor, Zhejiang Xindeng Forklift Factory, began preliminary research and trial production of narrow-aisle three-way stacking 名媛直播 as early as 1996, repeatedly optimizing key components such as mast strength, steering structure, and three-way fork head, laying the technical foundation for subsequent series 名媛直播. The aisle-type three-way stacker exhibited at the time was designed for high-bay narrow-aisle automated warehouses, enabling high-density stacking of goods on both sides of the aisle without widening the aisle, significantly improving warehouse capacity utilization, thus establishing Youn's first-mover advantage in the domestic VNA market with "early entry and early mass production."
Since launching its FMR (Forklift Mobile Robot) product matrix in 2024, Jingsong Intelligent has featured the three-way fork FMR as one of its representative models for narrow-aisle high-bay warehouses. After the forks are lifted to a certain height, this model can rotate 180° and move sideways, allowing for the storage and retrieval of goods on both sides of the aisle without the need for the vehicle to turn around. With a maximum lifting height of 8 meters, it is specifically designed for typical high-bay narrow-aisle dense storage scenarios. Combined with Jingsong's self-developed intelligent robot scheduling system, the three-way fork FMR can achieve multi-vehicle collaboration, high-density storage, and flexible path planning in extremely narrow aisles, making it widely applicable to logistics and warehousing projects in industries such as metallurgy, petrochemicals, home furnishings, and new energy, effectively improving warehouse capacity utilization and the level of unmanned operation. Zhongyan released a brand-new stand-on three-way narrow-aisle forklift (operator standing) in July 2025, with a rated load of 1 ton and a maximum lifting height of 5.5 meters, specifically designed for small and medium-sized high-bay warehousing users. The new vehicle features a compact body design, with a length of only approximately 970mm and a width of approximately 1540mm. The minimum turning radius is controlled at around 2700mm, allowing for flexible three-way stacking operations in aisles as narrow as 1.5 meters. It achieves integrated forward, lateral, and turning movements, significantly improving warehouse space utilization. Equipped with a 24V/280Ah battery and high-efficiency drive and lifting motors, the forklift balances range and power while maintaining low noise and excellent handling. It provides an economical and practical narrow-aisle solution for e-commerce warehouses, manufacturing finished goods warehouses, and third-party logistics warehousing scenarios.
Several domestic logistics system integrators and forklift companies are also independently developing VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) forklifts (not listed here). Overall, Chinese brands are accelerating the improvement of their technology and product range in high-bay narrow-aisle equipment, continuously narrowing the gap with leading European and American manufacturers.
VNA Applications
From an application logic perspective, the core value of VNA three-way stacking forklifts can be summarized in three aspects: ultimate space utilization capabilities, adaptability to multi-variety, small-batch high-bay picking, and the ability to deeply integrate with automated systems in high-standard infrastructure.
First is space utilization. In Europe, Japan, and major cities and port areas, warehouse land prices have long been high, forcing users to reduce the cost per pallet position through "higher shelves + narrower aisles." Some European manufacturers have already achieved 19-meter lifting heights in aisles approximately 1.6 meters wide. Such systems can significantly increase the number of pallet positions per unit of building area, reduce the proportion of aisle space occupied by shelves, and thus significantly reduce the overall cost per pallet position. Domestic companies' calculations show that compared to traditional counterbalance forklift solutions, using VNA solutions significantly increases the number of pallet positions, significantly reduces aisle width, and significantly lowers the unit pallet storage cost, demonstrating a very intuitive advantage in high-density storage.
Secondly, there is the operating mode. Developed markets in Europe and North America commonly employ an operational model of "multiple SKUs, small batches, and high-frequency picking" in retail, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and cold chain logistics. Man-up VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) forklifts can transport operators directly to any storage location, enabling "simultaneous lifting, moving, and picking," reducing repetitive lifting and repositioning time, and improving high-level picking efficiency. For small-batch orders requiring frequent picking at heights above 10 meters, the advantage of "man and goods on the same level" is difficult to replicate. Manufacturers like Jungheinrich typically position models like the EKX as capable of both high-level full-pallet stacking and high-level picking, making them a core piece of equipment in many hybrid automated warehouses.
Thirdly, there is the integration with automation. In Europe and Japan, VNA equipment is no longer considered a single "forklift product," but often appears as part of an automated system: the upper level might be fully or semi-automatic VNA stacker cranes, the middle level uses shuttle cars and conveyor lines, and the lower level handles sorting and packaging; some projects utilize deep integration of automated VNA with WMS/WCS to achieve 24/7 uninterrupted operation. Man-down VNA forklifts, in high-bay warehouses primarily focused on full-pallet handling with limited picking needs, often play the role of "automation backbone" alongside stacker cranes; while in scenarios requiring strong human-machine collaboration and frequent operator movement between high-level shelves, man-up VNA forklifts become the main players due to their "man and goods on the same level" feature. In many projects, these two types of equipment are not mutually exclusive, but rather work together in the same warehouse according to process division of labor.
In the Chinese market, VNA applications started relatively late, but have seen significant growth in the past five years. On the one hand, the rising cost of warehouse land in first-tier and core second-tier cities is forcing e-commerce, pharmaceutical, cold chain, and high-end manufacturing companies to adopt high-density storage solutions; on the other hand, policies such as "large-scale equipment renewal" and "new industrialization" have led to the transformation of many traditional flat warehouses into high-bay automated warehouses. For many businesses, VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) systems represent a crucial transitional stage from "traditional flat warehouses" to "medium or highly automated" systems: they significantly increase storage capacity within existing building constraints while also providing the space and experience necessary for the subsequent introduction of automated equipment such as stacker cranes and shuttle cars.
In these projects, "man-up" operation is not simply about elevating the driver's cab; it signifies a new safety logic, training system, and maintenance model. Drivers must adapt to the psychological demands of working at heights of over ten meters, and the equipment requires more precise mast control and anti-vibration systems. Floor flatness, rack rigidity, fire safety regulations, and information system capabilities must all meet higher standards. These requirements are precisely why VNA systems are highly prevalent in Europe and Japan, while still in a rapid development phase in other regions.
From a global perspective, VNA three-way stacker forklifts have become a substantial and steadily growing specialized market. Public research generally indicates that the global VNA market reached several billion US dollars in 2020 and is expected to expand further by 2030, maintaining a mid-to-high single-digit annual growth rate. The driving forces are primarily e-commerce expansion, high-density warehouse construction, and the continuous rise in land costs in Europe and the US.
In this market, Jungheinrich is undoubtedly one of the most representative "VNA sales champions." Its EKX series maintains a consistently high market share in the high-end man-up narrow-aisle market. Combined with its automated and cold storage versions, it has established a very stable engineering base in high-bay warehouses in Europe. In terms of height and technology, Jungheinrich, Linde, and the Japanese Mitsubishi Logisnext system constitute the "first tier" of the current high-end VNA market; in terms of sales and delivery capabilities, Jungheinrich, with its years of accumulated project experience and service network, occupies a very critical position in the global VNA market.
For Chinese players, this niche market presents both challenges and a rare growth opportunity. On the one hand, the global high-end VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) market is still primarily dominated by German, Japanese, and some American brands. Chinese brands have limited international penetration, and even in domestic high-end projects, imported VNAs still hold a significant market share. On the other hand, the Chinese warehousing market is growing rapidly, with large project volumes and extremely strong demand for high-density storage, making it one of the few super-large markets globally that is still "catching up" at a rapid pace. From a supply and demand perspective, VNA represents a substantial yet highly open market segment with significant growth potential.
More importantly, VNA three-way stacking forklifts are a typical systems engineering product, requiring extremely high standards in electronic control, batteries, sensors, navigation, mast structure, and software algorithms – areas that highly align with the strengths of the Chinese supply chain. With the accelerated adoption of new technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, visual and laser navigation, and large-model-driven scheduling systems in the warehousing sector, Chinese companies have a real opportunity to achieve a "leapfrog" in the next generation of VNAs: not only matching or even surpassing existing lifting heights, but also setting new benchmarks in intelligence, low-carbon operation, and system integration capabilities, truly upgrading VNAs from "high-shelf dedicated equipment" to "core nodes of digital automated warehouses."
In the foreseeable future, VNA three-way stacking forklifts will remain one of the indispensable key pieces of equipment in the global high-density storage field. German and Japanese companies will continue to consolidate their leading positions in the 18-19 meter height segment; meanwhile, Chinese brands have completed the crucial leap from "being able to do it" to "doing it well," and are now standing at a new starting point for "entering the global high-end market." For Chinese companies aspiring to cultivate the high-end warehousing equipment market, VNA is by no means a "niche market that can be ignored," but rather a strategic high ground combining scale, growth, and technological sophistication – whoever can establish a true product matrix and global service capabilities in this field will have the opportunity to occupy an important position in the future global warehousing landscape.
