05/21/2026
Most people never think about what holds up the roof in an underground mine.
But when thousands of feet of rock are hanging overhead, cribbing columns become critical infrastructure.
These timber columns are built by stacking grooved timbers in alternating layers — similar to Lincoln Logs — creating a support system capable of handling enormous vertical loads while allowing controlled movement as mine conditions change underground.
And the grooves are what make the entire system work.
If the notches are inconsistent:
load transfer becomes uneven,
columns can shift under pressure,
stability can be reduced,
and installation underground becomes more difficult.
Research from NIOSH has shown that even a single weak or improperly oriented timber layer can significantly reduce crib performance and support stability.
Underground, cribbing failure is not an option.
This 4-head notcher/groover system was designed to produce precision interlocking mine timbers at high production speeds using four independently driven 15HP cutter heads.
By creating consistent grooves in every 4x6 timber, the system helps ensure crib columns stack correctly, transfer load evenly, and remain stable under extreme underground conditions.
This video shows pre-shipment test run footage of the machine in operation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xnfbyrIAzc
Introducing our custom 4-head mine cribbing notcher machine — designed specifically for high-production 4x6 timber grooving applications.This automated syste...
