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| Figure from Korean patent "Transfer Shuttle and Automated Warehouse System Using the Same" (KR1717447), owned by SFA (Source: KIPRIS) |
Knauf AG has successfully invalidated SFA's "Transfer Shuttle and Automated Warehouse System Using the Same" (KR1717447) patent.
On September 30, 2025, the Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (KIPTAB) sided with Knauf, finding claim 1 of the patent invalid. Knauf filed its invalidation petition in April 2025, and the decision came roughly six months later. SFA may still appeal the ruling to the Korean Patent Court.
The invalidated patent covers a transport shuttle for automated warehouses, designed to travel along guide rails and directly load or retrieve cargo from storage racks. Its main components include a shuttle body that supports cargo, a driving unit for rail movement, and a transfer unit that extends toward the rack to deliver goods. The invention claimed advantages such as improved space utilization, higher loading/unloading efficiency, and simplified maintenance by eliminating the need for separate lifts or conveyors.
The ruling follows Knauf's earlier success in July 2025, when KIPTAB also invalidated SFA's "Smart Picking System" patent (KR1795440). That decision became final after SFA chose not to appeal. Knauf has additionally filed another invalidation action in February 2025 against SFA's related "Smart Picking System" patent (KR2412363).
Both the '440 and '363 patents concern automated logistics systems that reduce human intervention by transferring products from source boxes to target boxes using smart picking mechanisms, often featuring multiple picking stations or automated conveyor systems.
By PatenTrip
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