EXTRACTOR/BUFFER

An automated material handling system that includes an extractor/buffer apparatus capable of simultaneously accessing multiple Work-In-Process (WIP) parts, thereby providing a highly efficient interface between WIP storage locations and transport equipment. The extractor/buffer apparatus includes multiple extractor/buffer modules, each module being configured to interface with a location for holding WIP parts that is a number of WIP parts deep. Each module includes a platform for holding multiple WIP parts. Further, multiple modules may be disposed side-by-side to form an extractor/buffer apparatus capable of handling multiple rows of WIP parts.