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May 2026
efficient operations because they focus on reducing unnecessary motion and improving process flow.
At Gruber Pallets in Minnesota, manage- ment has built much of its improvement strategy around eliminating wasted move- ment and empowering employees to identify incremental process improvements.
That philosophy included minimizing manual stacking and unstacking, reducing forklift movement, and organizing production around smoother material flow.
For many operations, the most valuable technology investment may not initially involve major automation at all. It may begin with reorganizing flow, improving visibility, simplifying movement, and reducing operator frustration.
Visibility and Data Are Becoming More Valuable
Another area gaining traction is operational visibility. Historically, many pallet operations relied heavily on manual counts, hand- written production tracking, or verbal reporting. Increasingly, companies are implementing dashboards, barcode sys- tems, AI vision tools, and telematics to improve accountability and decision- making.
At Gruber Pallets, AI vision systems were introduced to improve production visibility and workstation accountability. Manage- ment reported immediate productivity improvements once employees could see accurate, real-time production data.
Neopal in Texas offers a more advanced example of how visibility and automation can support highly engineered manu- facturing systems. The company integrates machine monitoring, quality inspection systems, automated material handling, and production dashboards throughout its operation.
Still, Neopal’s approach reinforces an important point. Technology works best when paired with disciplined processes and clearly defined operational objectives.
“We define what we want to accomplish first,” Neopal owner Jeff Krug explained to Pallet Enterprise. “Then we find or build equipment to support those objectives.” That may be one of the most important lessons for pallet companies evaluating future investments.
Avoid Buying Technology Too Early
Technology can create major gains, but timing matters. Some companies invest in advanced automation before their pro- cesses are stable enough to support it. Others underestimate training requirements or fail to assign clear ownership for implementation and maintenance.
Successful adoption usually requires:
organized workflows
employee buy-in
reliable maintenance support
and clear operational goals
Incremental improvements are often easier
to manage and carry less financial risk than oversized all-at-once automation projects.
Pennyrile Pallets demonstrated that approach through a series of measured upgrades rather than a complete operational overhaul. The company improved workflow, material handling, and flexibility while maintaining the culture and operational style that already worked well for its business.
Technology Should Fit the Operation
The pallet industry has always rewarded practical problem-solvers. That reality has not changed.
The best technology investments are often the ones that quietly remove friction from the workday:
a conveyor that reduces unnecessary movement,
a lift table that reduces fatigue,
a stacker that improves flow,
a saw that frees up labor,
or a dashboard that identifies downtime before it becomes a larger issue.
Technology does not need to be flashy to transform an operation.
For pallet manufacturers and recyclers evaluating future investments, the most important question may not be, “What is the newest technology?” but rather, “What problem are we trying to solve?”
Companies that answer that question honestly are often the ones making the smartest long-term technology decisions.