A barb cutting station comprising: a base panel; a suture transport assembly for supporting first and second sutures; first and second knife assemblies for forming barbs on the first and second sutures, respectively; first and second clamp and position assemblies for approximating the first and second sutures towards the first and second knife assemblies, respectively; wherein the first and second knife assemblies and the first and second clamp and position assemblies are fixedly mounted on the base panel, and the suture transport assembly is mounted to the base panel in an upright position along a track such that it is configured to move linearly along the track in a direction ("A") perpendicular to the knife assemblies; wherein the suture transport assembly comprises: a base member, a fixed upper support member including a pair of upper rotary assemblies each including a clamp or anchor configured to attach a distal end of one of the first and second sutures thereto, respectively; and an adjustable lower support member including a pair of lower rotary assemblies each including a holding assembly extending therefrom having a fixation device configured to attach to a proximal end of one of the first and second sutures, respectively, and the pair of lower rotary assemblies including each a tensioning device for tensioning the respective suture once the suture has been received between the respective upper and lower rotary assemblies (210, 220); the lower support member further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a distance between the lower support member and the upper support member; and each of the upper and lower support members (204, 206) further comprising a rotary motor (224, 226), respectively, operably connected to the upper and lower rotary assemblies (210, 220), respectively, for rotating the first and second sutures along the respective longitudinal axis thereof. a base panel; a suture transport assembly for supporting first and second sutures; first and second knife assemblies for forming barbs on the first and second sutures, respectively; first and second clamp and position assemblies for approximating the first and second sutures towards the first and second knife assemblies, respectively; wherein the first and second knife assemblies and the first and second clamp and position assemblies are fixedly mounted on the base panel, and the suture transport assembly is mounted to the base panel in an upright position along a track such that it is configured to move linearly along the track in a direction ("A") perpendicular to the knife assemblies; wherein the suture transport assembly comprises: a base member, a fixed upper support member including a pair of upper rotary assemblies each including a clamp or anchor configured to attach a distal end of one of the first and second sutures thereto, respectively; and an adjustable lower support member including a pair of lower rotary assemblies each including a holding assembly extending therefrom having a fixation device configured to attach to a proximal end of one of the first and second sutures, respectively, and the pair of lower rotary assemblies including each a tensioning device for tensioning the respective suture once the suture has been received between the respective upper and lower rotary assemblies (210, 220); the lower support member further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a distance between the lower support member and the upper support member; and each of the upper and lower support members (204, 206) further comprising a rotary motor (224, 226), respectively, operably connected to the upper and lower rotary assemblies (210, 220), respectively, for rotating the first and second sutures along the respective longitudinal axis thereof. a base member, a fixed upper support member including a pair of upper rotary assemblies each including a clamp or anchor configured to attach a distal end of one of the first and second sutures thereto, respectively; and an adjustable lower support member including a pair of lower rotary assemblies each including a holding assembly extending therefrom having a fixation device configured to attach to a proximal end of one of the first and second sutures, respectively, and the pair of lower rotary assemblies including each a tensioning device for tensioning the respective suture once the suture has been received between the respective upper and lower rotary assemblies (210, 220); the lower support member further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a distance between the lower support member and the upper support member; and each of the upper and lower support members (204, 206) further comprising a rotary motor (224, 226), respectively, operably connected to the upper and lower rotary assemblies (210, 220), respectively, for rotating the first and second sutures along the respective longitudinal axis thereof.