Stringer Notchers
Pendu stringer notchers are built around your production, not as standalone machines. Whether you're manually loading a single-head notcher or running a fully automated line, the right configuration depends on your stringer lengths, production volume, labor, and available floor space.
Pendu engineers the infeed, notching, and takeaway as one system, so each part works together to keep material moving. That can mean a single-head machine with manual loading, or a fully automated line capable of processing up to 7,000 stringers per hour without manual handling between the pile and finished bundle.
Tell us what you're notching and how much of it, and we'll tell you what the line should look like.
Every configuration below notches stringers. What changes is how much of the process your people have to handle.
Single-Head, Manual Load: An operator loads stringers; the machine notches them. Smaller footprint, lower investment, and straightforward to run. A practical fit when volume doesn't justify automation or when a second machine adds capacity without adding a full line.
Double-Head: Two heads work the same stringer, cutting cycle time roughly in half. More throughput without adding floor space or significant line complexity.
Automated Infeed: Material feeds the notcher instead of an operator loading it. Depending on your operation, that could be a pit unscrambler, incline conveyor, or tilt hoist for bundled stringers.
The right infeed depends on your floor, your material flow, and where your stringers come from. It's specified as part of the system, not added as an afterthought.
Automated Takeaway: Notched stringers go directly to a stacker instead of a crew stacking by hand. Several Pendu stackers can run behind a notcher, with the right configuration depending on your speed, floor space, and whether stringers need to be graded as they come off.
Fully Automated Line: Infeed, notching, and stacking work as one system. An over-the-top board bypass allows deck boards to skip the notcher and route directly to the same stacker as the finished stringers.
The result is a continuous material flow from the pile to the finished bundle, without manual handling between steps.
Three numbers matter when you're sizing a notcher. Notch depth, width, and spacing are all set to your needs. If your requirements fall outside these ranges, that's a build conversation rather than a limitation.
Throughput: Manual-load machines run at the pace of the operator. Automated high-speed configurations can run up to 7,000 stringers per hour.
Stringer length: 36″ to 72″ standard, with longer capacity available up to 123″ for operations running oversized stock.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can a Pendu notcher run?
Throughput depends on the entire system from infeed to outfeed. A manual-load notcher runs at the speed of its operator. An automated high-speed configuration can reach 7,000 stringers per hour. Tell us your target volume, and we'll tell you what it takes to hit it.
What stringer lengths can you handle?
36″ to 72″ covers standard applications, with longer capacity available up to 123″. If you regularly change between lengths, mention it early because that affects how the line is configured.
How much automation do I need?
That depends on your production volume, labor, floor space, and how your stringers are supplied. Pendu can configure anything from a manually loaded notcher to a fully automated infeed, notching, and stacking system.
Can I add a notcher to a line I already have?
Yes. Pendu designs around existing infeed equipment, conveyors, controls, and other line infrastructure when the application calls for it. You can add notching capacity without replacing an entire production line.
Do I have to buy the whole line?
No. Operations can start with a notcher and add automated infeed or stacking as volume grows. Systems can be designed with future expansion in mind.
Can I run deck boards through the same system?
On automated configurations, yes. Deck boards can bypass the notcher and route directly to the same stacker as the finished stringers, eliminating the need for a separate stacking system.
What about controls and service?
Controls are engineered and built in-house, so there's no third-party integrator between you and Pendu. When something needs adjusting, you're talking to the people who built the system.
Not Seeing What You Need?
Tell us the stringer you're running, the notch geometry your customer requires, and what the notcher needs to keep pace with.
Pendu builds notching systems around the production you're actually running, from a single manually loaded machine to fully automated lines.
83,000
Sq. Ft. Of Manufacturing Space
25+
Years Of Engineering Expertise
