Currently, semiconductor manufacturing has entered a stage of high capacity and high yield competition, where the efficiency and safety of material storage and scheduling directly determine the flow of the production line. As a critical support system, the Automated Material Handling System (AMHS) relies heavily on its core component—the Stocker (automated storage and retrieval system)—whose performance often limits the overall level of intelligent manufacturing.

MoveLink, with deep expertise in semiconductor Stockers, has developed an intelligent Stocker system designed specifically for the demanding conditions of semiconductor production. With high-density storage, precise scheduling, and stable operation, it effectively connects and optimizes the entire material storage and flow process.

What is a Stocker?

MoveLink’s Intelligent Stocker is purpose-built for semiconductor production lines and sets a new benchmark for smart automated storage. By integrating stacker cranes, multi-tier racks, intelligent control systems, and advanced algorithms, it achieves ultra-high-density storage, millimeter-level positioning accuracy, and rapid scheduling, becoming a true “central hub” connecting production processes.

With efficiency, safety, and collaboration at its core, the Intelligent Stocker is reshaping the way semiconductor factories store and move materials.

Product Highlights: Precisely Matching Core Semiconductor Production Needs

Multi-SEMI Carrier Compatibility · Efficient Handling
Supports efficient handling of FOUPs, Cassettes, Magazines, Trays, and other SEMI-standard carriers. No additional adaptation is needed to interface with different production stages, ensuring maximum versatility.

High-speed, Stable Stacker · Millimeter-level Precision
Equipped with high-performance stackers, achieving ±1 mm positioning accuracy and travel speeds of 1.8 m/s, with vibration control under 0.5G. This ensures scheduling efficiency while preventing material damage, guaranteeing uninterrupted production.

Flexible and Scalable · Dynamic Capacity Upgrade
Optional CDA/N₂ functionality and customizable port design are supported. The system can flexibly expand storage slots and increase capacity according to factory ramp-up needs, reducing later modification costs and supporting long-term production planning.

High Safety and Stability · 24/7 Uninterrupted Operation
Redundant control design and self-diagnostic systems allow continuous operation 24/7. SEMI S2/S8 certification ensures full compliance with the semiconductor industry’s strict safety and environmental standards.

Dual-Stacker Layered Collaboration · Intelligent Collision Avoidance
Core logic employs layered protection to balance safety and efficiency:

• PLC “Reactive Avoidance”: Uses local sensors and laser collision detection to identify nearby threats in real time and trigger hard logic protections, maintaining safety.

• STKC Software “Predictive Avoidance”: Based on global system status (equipment positions, task priorities, aisle occupancy), path-planning algorithms proactively avoid potential conflicts, reducing on-site avoidance events and improving scheduling efficiency.

Application Scenarios: Tackling Semiconductor Production Pain Points

In semiconductor production, inefficiencies often stem from mismatched equipment capacity, storage contamination risks, and delayed material scheduling. FlowLink Technology’s Intelligent Stocker provides precise solutions for different scenarios:

Scenario 1 — Process Buffer Storage: Resolving Capacity Bottlenecks & Preventing Production Interruptions
Temporarily store materials waiting to be processed or already processed between different process equipment. Dynamic buffering balances equipment capacity differences, preventing a halt in one process from stopping the entire production line, ensuring smooth workflow.

Scenario 2 — Long-term Safe Storage: Maintaining Material Quality
For materials not immediately entering the next process, the Stocker provides a sealed, clean, constant-temperature, and constant-humidity storage environment. This prevents oxidation, contamination, or physical damage, ensuring high yield in subsequent processes.

Scenario 3 — Automated Transport & Handoffs: Enabling Unmanned Material Flow
As a core node of the AMHS, the Stocker integrates seamlessly with hybrid robots and OHT (Overhead Hoist Transport) systems, automating material in/out storage and transfer between workshops and equipment. This greatly reduces manual intervention and lowers the risk of human error and contamination.

MoveLink focuses on semiconductor AMHS, with the Intelligent Stocker system at its core, providing efficient, reliable material storage and scheduling solutions to help semiconductor manufacturing reach higher levels of intelligence and automation.