How Martin Ray Winery improved bottling efficiency with robotic palletizing

Martin Ray Winery, a historic wine producer based in California, modernized its bottling operations by implementing a robotic palletizing solution.

Results at a glance:

• Reduced manual palletizing labor
• Improved bottling line efficiency
• Increased operational reliability
• Expected ROI within 18–24 months

This case highlights how collaborative robotic palletizers can solve labor shortages and production bottlenecks in the wine industry.

The challenge: Manual palletizing slowing down bottling operations

Like many wineries, Martin Ray relied on manual palletizing at the end of the bottling line.

As production scaled, this created operational constraints:

Labor-intensive process

• Two workers required per shift to stack heavy wine cases
• Physically demanding, repetitive work

Labor shortages and rising costs

• Difficulty hiring and retaining workers in California
• Increasing operational expenses

Workplace safety risks

• Repetitive lifting increased risk of injury and fatigue

Space limitations

• Traditional palletizers were too large for the available footprint

As COO Bill Batchelor put it:

“We had two people stacking pallets all day long by hand. It’s tedious work and physically demanding.”

Key takeaway: Manual palletizing was limiting throughput, increasing costs, and creating ergonomic risks.

Martin Ray implemented Robotiq Lean Palletizing (a PE20 model)—a collaborative robot workcell designed for flexible, space-efficient palletizing.

Why this palletizing solution worked

1. Compact footprint
Installed in nearly the same space as manual palletizing: no major layout redesign required.

2. Designed for heavy cases
Proven performance in wineries and distilleries handling demanding loads.

3. Customizable workflow
Robotiq adapted the system in one week to support floor stacking (no pallets), a unique winery requirement.

4. Collaborative deployment approach
Weekly collaboration ensured seamless integration with the bottling line.

The system was quickly adopted into daily production.

Simple changeovers

Operators can switch between case formats using recipe-based programming:

• Input box dimensions
• Input weight
• Select pallet pattern

The system handles the rest.

Reliable performance at line speed

Initial concerns about throughput were eliminated:

• The robot kept up with bottling speeds immediately
• Continuous operation without fatigue
• Minimal maintenance required

1. Reduced labor requirements

• Labor reduced by more than one position on the bottling line
• Additional gains expected with further optimization

2. Workforce upskilling

• Employees reassigned to higher-value roles:
• Machine operation
• Filtration
• Quality control

3. Improved production consistency

• No fatigue or slowdowns
• Stable, repeatable palletizing performance

4. Fast return on investment

Expected ROI: 18–24 months

The palletizing cell has become more than a production asset.

It’s now part of the winery tour.

“When people visit the winery, we show them the robot… It shows that we’re looking toward the future.”

For Martin Ray, automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about building a modern, resilient operation while preserving craftsmanship.

This case demonstrates a broader trend: automation in wine production is becoming essential.

Robotic palletizing is particularly valuable for wineries because it:

• Handles heavy, repetitive case stacking
• Reduces dependency on manual labor
• Fits into existing bottling lines
• Improves safety and ergonomics
• Scales with production growth

By adopting a collaborative robotic palletizer, Martin Ray Winery:

• Eliminated a key bottleneck
• Reduced labor dependency
• Increased efficiency and reliability
• Positioned itself for long-term growth

Automation didn’t replace workers—it enabled them to do more valuable work.

If you’re dealing with labor shortages, ergonomic risks, or production bottlenecks, robotic palletizing might be simpler—and faster to deploy—than you think.

👉 Try the Palletizing Fit Tool to see what solution fits your application

👉 Read the full Martin Ray case study

Or connect with an expert to explore how Lean Palletizing can fit your floor.