Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Neotel’s smart material management solutions, equipment, software integration, and support services.
FAQ at a Glance
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Neo Light is a pick-to-light smart rack for SMT stencils and reels. It provides visual guidance and (optionally) position sensors for in/out detection to keep inventory accurate in real time.
SMD BOX is Neotel’s automated storage & retrieval system (AS/RS) designed for SMT materials — primarily reels (and, in some models, boxes/containers). It stores, tracks, and dispenses parts automatically to cut kitting time, reduce errors, and raise line readiness.
Main models:
- SMD BOX MIMO — Multi-input/multi-output, ~1,000 reel class, AGV-friendly.
- SMD BOX DUO — Dual-module, 4,000+ reels, 1 I/O with internal sorting.
- SMD BOX XLR — High-density large capacity (up to 20,000 reels) with multiple shuttles/sectors.
- SMD BOX ONE — Integrated labeling + storage for simpler setups.
- SMD BOX Fusion — Mixed storage (reels + containers) with two “zones” (performance/density).
A single SMD BOX XLR can be configured to store up to ~20,000 reels (exact figure depends on your reel mix and layout). For larger programs, we design multi-machine solutions — multiple XLRs orchestrated by SMF with conveyors/AGVs — which can handle far beyond 20k reels as a unified system.
- SMT reels (7″/13″/15″; 8–56 mm tape widths)
- Trays (JEDEC) & sticks/tubes
- Boxes/containers (for non-reel parts, consumables)
- Stencils (via Neo Light Stencil)
- Line-side items (return/leftover reels)
Not sure about a specific part or package? Send a short list (PN, form factor, dimensions) and we’ll confirm fit + best storage/kitting flow.
Neo Counter is Neotel’s X-ray component counter for SMT reels. It scans reels, recognizes components with vision algorithms, and outputs an accurate piece count + trace data for inventory, receiving, and kitting.
Yes, Neotel’s smart material handling systems are designed to support high-mix, low-volume production environments. Key capabilities include:
- Flexible Storage — Systems like SMD BOX can store a variety of components with different reel sizes and types, making it easy to handle a wide mix of parts.
- Fast Replenishment — SMF software ensures quick material retrieval and replenishment based on production requirements, minimizing downtime.
- Efficient Kitting — Neo Kitter automatically sorts and prepares the required reels for feeders, enabling fast changeovers and seamless handling of small batch sizes.
- Customizable Setup — Solutions are adaptable to changing production orders, allowing easy switching between different product types in any volume.
Yes, Neotel can design and build custom machines tailored to your specific production needs, including unique materials, reel sizes, and integration with existing systems.
Neotel storage systems are modular and configured to order, so exact height, width, and depth depend on your capacity and site constraints. As sizing guidance: SMD BOX SISO needs roughly 2 m² of floor space, MIMO also about 2 m², and DUO/XLR vary with tower height and module count (tower height is expandable). Standard requirements are industrial power (220V/380V) and a network connection; the DUO, for example, needs 220V three-phase, 6 bar compressed air, and 500 mm rear clearance. During quotation we provide a dimensioned CAD layout (2D/3D) of your exact configuration so you can validate it against your floor plan before ordering.
Our standard scope covers 7″/13″/15″ SMT reels (8–56 mm tape), JEDEC trays (via a purpose-designed carrier), tubes/sticks, totes, and PCB magazines depending on model. Wafer rings and other special form factors are handled through custom carriers — Neotel designs and builds tailor-made handling for customer-specific materials, so wafer-ring storage is assessed per project. Tell us your ring diameter and volumes in a quote request and we will confirm feasibility and the right model.
The SMD BOX SP stores solder paste in refrigerated, FIFO-managed slots. Because solder paste ships in several formats (500 g jars, cartridges, syringes), the slot count depends on the container format you use — smaller cartridges yield a higher capacity than jars in the same cabinet. When you tell us your container type and daily consumption, we provide the exact capacity table for your configuration as part of the quotation.
No per-reel training is required for normal operation. NEO COUNTER X-ray scans the reel and its vision algorithms recognize the components and derive counting parameters automatically; the result is stored against the part number, so recurring materials are counted immediately on subsequent scans. Accuracy is 99.9%, with a count time of about 5 seconds per reel on the X400 and up to 600 reels/hour on the X800.
Neotel machines are designed to comply with CE requirements, and we support deployments in North America. UL/NRTL conformity (e.g., field evaluation or listing) is arranged per project depending on the destination state/province and your insurer’s requirements. Tell us your target site in a quote request and we will confirm the certification path and lead time for your configuration.
NEO COUNTER X-ray counters use a fully enclosed, lead-shielded cabinet with safety interlocks; surface leakage is below 1 µSv/h, comparable to natural background levels. In the EU, X-ray equipment falls under the Euratom Basic Safety Standards (Directive 2013/59/Euratom) as implemented by each member state — typically a notification or registration with the national radiation authority rather than a full license for enclosed low-leakage equipment. Neotel provides the technical documentation (shielding data, leakage measurements) needed for your local registration. Specific certification and radiation figures are confirmed per region and configuration.
Neotel equipment is designed to comply with CE requirements — for machinery that means the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, including ISO 12100 risk assessment and functional-safety design per ISO 13849-1 / IEC 62061. The EU Declaration of Conformity and supporting certificates for your machines are provided with the project documentation, and current documents are available on request through our contact form — you don’t need to wait until delivery to review them. Final certification and the achieved safety levels per function are confirmed per project and region.
SMF (Smart Material Flow) is Neotel’s centralized, web-based software that connects and orchestrates all material-handling equipment (SMD BOX, Neo Scan, Neo Counter, Neo Kitter, smart racks, conveyors). It manages IDs, inventory, receiving, kitting, replenishment, MSD control, and traceability — integrated with your ERP/MES.
Yes. SMF exposes APIs and supports CSV/XML/JSON mapping and custom connectors.
Yes. Neotel provides native integration connectors for Fuji, Panasonic, and Hanwha. We also support additional vendors via file/API mapping. Contact us to discuss your specific line software and version.
SMF integration refers to the data exchange between SMF and your existing ERP, MES, or warehouse management system. It is not code merging — rather, both systems communicate through defined interfaces (APIs, CSV, or XML) to synchronize material data such as work orders, inventory status, and consumption records.
No. Integration between SMF and your existing system (such as ERP or MES) is a two-party collaboration. Neotel provides the integration interface, API documentation, and technical support, while your internal IT or MES/ERP vendor is responsible for connecting your system to SMF using the provided interface. Successful integration requires both sides to cooperate and test together.
ERP (SAP, Oracle), MES, WMS, production scheduling systems, and more.
SMF provides a standard API/CSV/XML interface; the customer adapts their system to match the defined data format.
The customer’s IT/MES team or their system integrator.
API documentation, data format specifications, and a test environment.
Both parties — Neotel validates the SMF side, and the customer validates ERP/MES data mapping.
Possible with customization, but it is a joint engineering task that requires collaboration from both sides.
Work orders, material master data, UIDs, storage status, and production consumption records.
Depends on the customer’s system capability; SMF supports both real-time and scheduled data exchange.
Standard RESTful API is the primary method; CSV/XML file-based exchange is supported for simpler setups.
No — integration is done through defined interfaces for security and stability.
SMF queues data and retries automatically; no data is lost.
No. SMF is designed for intranet (LAN) communication. No internet connection is required for integration.
Yes; both sides must configure proper network and port permissions for successful data exchange.
Yes, with modular data connectors. SMF can communicate with ERP, MES, WMS, and other systems simultaneously.
RESTful API (JSON) is the primary protocol. CSV/XML import/export is also supported.
Typically 2–4 weeks after both sides confirm the data mapping.
System architecture documentation, data field mapping, and interface definition.
Step-by-step: simulation → dry-run → live connection → monitoring.
Each side maintains their own interface; Neotel maintains SMF API stability and backward compatibility.
The interface needs to be revalidated; SMF API versioning supports backward compatibility, making re-integration straightforward.
The integration function is included with SMF; customization may incur additional charges depending on scope.
Only data related to materials flow; SMF is not a replacement for ERP/MES.
Because integration depends on how your system handles data — SMF cannot access external systems without cooperation. Both sides must agree on data formats, authentication, and network configuration.
Data structure discussion can start early; actual testing requires a live SMF system.
Customer side not ready with API endpoints or missing test data.
Technical guidance, online meetings, and test support — not development on the ERP/MES side.
Yes. NEO SCAN captures all codes on the label surface in one pass and applies recognition rules to identify part number, lot, quantity, and date codes — it reaches 99.8% recognition including non-standard supplier labels. Where labels are ambiguous, supplier-specific label profiles and priority rules determine which barcode wins, and the operator can confirm on screen. After registration the reel carries a single Neotel UID label, so downstream equipment never has to re-answer the question.
Yes — the UID label format is configured during commissioning. Code symbology, prefix/suffix structure, and how the UID maps to your ERP/MES material keys can be aligned with your existing numbering scheme so the Neotel UID slots directly into your traceability chain. Deeper customization (e.g., embedding plant or supplier codes) is handled as part of the project scope — describe your numbering rules in a quote request.
Neotel systems are managed by the SMF (Smart Material Flow) platform, which exposes standard REST APIs, OPC UA, MQTT, IPC-CFX, and EtherNet/IP for bidirectional exchange of material movements, inventory, and traceability data. Validated integrations include SAP and Oracle on the ERP side and MES platforms such as Panasonic PanaCIM, Fuji NEXIM, and T-Solution, plus custom MES via API. Other systems — for example Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central — connect through the same standard APIs; validation status for your exact landscape is confirmed during the project.
Yes to documentation — SMF’s REST API and OPC UA interfaces are documented, and API documentation is shared during project evaluation on request, so your IT team can review endpoints and data models before you commit. We do not provide a public sandbox or trial license; integration is set up and validated during the project together with Neotel engineers. Request the documentation via our contact form with a note about your ERP/MES landscape.
Neotel’s AGV integration supports common communication protocols such as MQTT, REST API, and Modbus, allowing smooth communication between SMF, the AGV system, and other equipment. This ensures the AGV can receive material transport instructions, report back on status, and align with production schedules.
Yes, SMF provides job scheduling and route management for AGVs. It can assign tasks based on material needs, prioritize transport, and optimize routes to ensure maximum efficiency. Neotel’s system integrates AGVs into the production line so they autonomously transport materials and return to designated storage areas without interruption.
Yes. SMF tracks MSL levels and floor-life timers per reel, pauses timers in dry storage (SMD BOX / Neo Dryer), enforces bake/release rules, and logs everything for traceability.
Each reel/box has a UID in SMF. When a package is opened or received, a floor-life timer starts. When returned to controlled storage (SMD BOX / Neo Dryer), the timer pauses; it resumes when taken out again.
Yes, Neotel’s systems comply with the J-STD-033 standard for Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL) management. Our software tracks and enforces floor-life control, baking procedures, and proper storage to meet the requirements of this industry standard, ensuring the integrity of your components during production.
Neotel offers a 1-year warranty on hardware and software from the date of installation. This covers defects in materials and workmanship. Extended warranty options are available.
Yes, Neotel offers remote troubleshooting, software updates, and configuration assistance. We can access systems via VPN or remote desktop tools for fast issue resolution.
Basic electro-mechanical maintenance skills are enough for routine upkeep. Helpful background includes general machine-maintenance experience (for example a maintenance-technician qualification) and a basic understanding of sensors — but no specialized certification is required. Neotel provides the training and documentation your team needs to become self-sufficient for day-to-day tasks.
No. PLC / ladder programming is not required to operate or maintain the equipment. Basic Python knowledge can be helpful for advanced users who work with data exports or custom integrations, but it is entirely optional — everyday maintenance needs no coding.
Yes. Neotel provides hands-on on-site training for your operators and maintenance staff as part of commissioning, covering operation, routine maintenance, and common troubleshooting on your actual equipment. After go-live, remote support (phone, email, or video) is available to guide your team through any issue that comes up.
Because the system is an automated storage & retrieval system (AS/RS), maintenance is mostly cleaning, inspection, and calibration of moving and sensing parts. Typical tasks and indicative intervals (adjust to your usage):
- Clean optical sensors / scanners / cameras — monthly
- Inspect & clean the transport mechanism (belts, guide rails, drive) — quarterly
- Lubricate moving parts / linear guides — quarterly to semi-annual
- Check & recalibrate positioning / counting accuracy — semi-annual or as needed
- Inspect door mechanism, seals & humidity control (MSD models) — quarterly
- Clean cooling fans / dust filters — quarterly
- Software update & database backup — as released
Most tasks are quick, planned, and can be performed by your own trained staff.
Electrical parts (sensors, fans, power modules, cables, and similar) are designed to be user-serviceable — Neotel can ship the part and guide the replacement remotely. Mechanical assemblies (transport / drive mechanisms and precision-aligned components) are more complex and are best handled by a Neotel engineer, or under our direct guidance, to preserve accuracy and warranty.
Yes — we run live demonstrations rather than relying on videos alone: book a remote video demo (30–45 min, screen-shared with a live machine) or an on-site demonstration through our demonstration page, and we tailor it to your material mix. Recorded product walkthrough videos are available on request for internal sharing with your team.
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