Abstract: An automated acid etching machine for glass and ceramic items includes a plurality of horizontal arms rotatable about a central hub, a vertically translatable arm attached to each of the horizontal arms, a carrier head attached to each of the vertically translatable arms, and item gripping means located on the carrier head. Treatment stations are circumferentially located about the hub. After the items are secured by a gripper, the horizontal arm indexes to the first treatment station, and the vertically translatable arm inserts and then retracts the items into the treatment station. The items are indexed among the plurality of stations until the etching process is complete. The stations have slotted roofs allowing the carrier heads to index from station to station without completely exiting the structure. Items secured to each of the carrier heads are treated in the various different treatment stations simultaneously.