Industry Innovation: The Story Behind the Notch Six Pack

In this behind-the-scenes look at the Notch Six Pack, inventor and pro arborist Terry Banyard takes us on a raw, hands-on journey through the evolution of one of arboriculture’s most innovative rigging devices.

What began as a rough sketch traced around six empty beer cans quickly transformed into a mission to solve real-world frustrations faced by tree workers—namely rope twist, unpredictable friction, and awkward setups. Through trial, error, and countless prototypes in the workshop, Terry conceptualized a compact, tree-mounted lowering device that delivers smooth performance and customizable friction paths. From scrap metal to a fully realized, production-ready tool, this is the story of how perseverance, problem-solving, and a bit of welding magic gave rise to a game-changing product for arborists everywhere.