Uncoilers and Uncoiler Machines for Steel and Metal Coils
An uncoiler (uncoiler machine) holds a steel or other metal coil, usually on an expanding mandrel, and pays strip off to the straightener, feeder and stamping press, or into a roll forming, shearing or cut-to-length line. This guide shows how to match uncoilers to coil weight, strip width, coil ID/OD and line speed; every range on this page comes from our data sheets, in metric and imperial units.
Size an uncoiler by the heaviest coil (kg, t or lb), strip width and thickness, coil ID/OD and line speed. Light coils can run on a light-duty stock reel or a non-motorized (pull-off) uncoiler; most press feed lines use a motorized uncoiler with loop control; hydraulic expansion, a pressing arm and a coil loading car are added as coils get heavier and changeovers become more frequent.
What is an uncoiler machine?
An uncoiler, also called an uncoiling machine or coil unwinder, is a coil handling machine that releases metal strip from a coil in a controlled way. It supports the coil, holds the coil inner diameter, turns the coil (or lets the downstream machine pull it) and delivers material to the next machine without loosening, vibration or interruption.
How a motorized uncoiler works 60-second demonstration
Illustrative 3D demonstration of a fully equipped HENLI motorized MT uncoiler: pneumatic pressing arm, hydraulic expansion and VFD speed control. Hand-crank expansion and the optional coil loading car are also shown.
Is an uncoiler the same as a decoiler?
Yes. Uncoiler and decoiler are two names for the same machine: it holds a metal coil and pays the strip off to the next machine. To uncoil, or decoil, simply means to unwind a coil. Which name you meet depends mostly on the market, as the table below shows. The machine is also named by material, as a steel coil uncoiler or a metal coil uncoiler. Selection depends on coil weight, width, thickness, coil ID/OD, line speed and automation, not on the name. HENLI's motorized MT series for press feed lines is on our motorized decoiler machine page.
Which names mean the same machine?
The same machine goes by different names from market to market.
| Name | Where it is used | Compared with an uncoiler |
|---|---|---|
| Uncoiler, uncoiler machine | North America, by coil processing and roll forming line builders and in used-machinery listings; Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan | The name used in this guide |
| DecoilerUK catalogs: motorised or powered decoiler; non-motorised decoiler | UK and Ireland; also continental Europe, the Nordic countries, India, Pakistan, the Gulf states, South Africa and Australia | Same machine |
| Coil reel, motorized reel, payoff reel | North American press feed suppliers | Same machine; compared in depth in pay-off reel vs decoiler vs coil reel |
| Stock reel, pull-off reel | North American suppliers: stock reel for light-duty units, pull-off reel for non-motorized ones | Same machine, at the light-duty or non-motorized end of the range |
| Pallet uncoilerdisc or horizontal uncoiler | Thin, narrow strip | Same job, different layout: the coil lies flat on a turntable |
| Coil cradle | Thicker strip and plate lines | Different design: rollers carry the coil by its outside diameter; there is no mandrel |
| Abwickelhaspel · dévidoir · svolgitore · desbobinadora or devanadora · odwijak | Germany · France · Italy · Spain · Poland | Same machine |
| Desenrollador de lámina · desbobinador | Mexico · Argentina and Brazil | Same machine |
Coil weight by uncoiler type
Logarithmic scale, 0.1 to 20 tonnes. Find your heaviest coil, then read which types cover it. The full comparison table follows.
| Type | Coil weight | Strip width | Thickness | Coil ID / OD | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (motorized)MT-200 – MT-800 | 500 kg–3 t; up to 8 t1,100–6,600 lb; up to 17,600 lb | 200–800 mm7.9–31.5 in | — | ID 450–530 · OD 1,200 mm17.7–20.9 · 47.2 in | 15 m/min49 ft/min |
| Heavy-coil (hydraulic expansion)MT-800 – MT-1600 | 5–15 t; up to 20 t11,000–33,000 lb; up to 44,000 lb | 800–1,600 mm; custom to 1,800 mm31.5–63.0 in; custom to 70.9 in | 0.2–6.0 mm0.008–0.236 in | ID 450–530* · OD ≤ 1,500 mm17.7–20.9 · 59.1 in | — |
| Double headMTD-200A – MTD-400A | 0.5–1.2 t × 21,102–2,646 lb × 2 | 200–400 mm7.9–15.7 in | 0–3.0 mm0–0.118 in | ID 450–530 · OD 1,200 mm17.7–20.9 · 47.2 in | 60 m/min197 ft/min |
| Disc (horizontal)YTE / YTF / YTG | 500 kg–2 t1,100–4,400 lb | 5–120 mm0.2–4.7 in | 0–1.2 mm0–0.047 in | OD 800–1,500 mm31.5–59.1 in | 20–30 m/min66–98 ft/min |
| Light-dutyCR-100 / CR-200 | 100 kg220.5 lb | ≤ 180 mm≤ 7.1 in | — | ID 140–410 · OD 600–800 mm5.5–16.1 · 23.6–31.5 in | — |
| Coil loading carAccessory | 3–20 t6,600–44,000 lb | 100–2,000 mm3.9–78.7 in | — | — | ≈ 4 m/min travel≈ 13 ft/min |
Types of uncoilers
Choose the structure by coil size, production speed, changeover frequency and the downstream process. A small stamping line and a heavy coil feeding line may both need an uncoiler, but the structure and options can be very different.
Standard (motorized) uncoiler
Motor-driven mandrel for most press feed lines, working with loop control; often listed as an automatic uncoiler. Hand-crank or hydraulic expansion, chosen by coil weight.
MT-200 – MT-800 series →
Heavy-coil uncoiler
Standard models take 5–15 t (11,000–33,000 lb) coils, 800–1,600 mm (31.5–63.0 in) wide. Hydraulic expansion grips the coil bore, and the machine is usually paired with a coil loading car.
MT-800 – MT-1600 series →
Double head uncoiler
Prepare the next coil on one mandrel while the other runs, so a coil change stops the line for less time.
MTD series →
Disc (horizontal) uncoiler
The coil lies flat on a turntable (a flat pallet uncoiler), which suits thin, narrow or surface-sensitive strip that should not hang on a mandrel.
YTE / YTF / YTG series →
Light-duty uncoiler
Compact motorized stock reel for coils up to 100 kg (220.5 lb) on light presses, where footprint matters more than capacity.
CR-100 / CR-200 →
Coil loading car
Lifts the coil and travels it onto the mandrel, so heavy coils are loaded without a crane or manual alignment.
Coil car options →Steel coil and metal coil uncoilers
Whether it is listed as a coil uncoiler machine, a sheet metal uncoiler, a steel coil uncoiler or a metal coil uncoiler, the coil material changes the machine more than the name does. Weight, stiffness and surface decide the drive, the mandrel expansion, the pay-off control and how the coil is loaded: steel uncoilers are sized first by coil weight, and uncoilers for aluminum, copper and brass first by surface protection.
Steel coil uncoiler
Carbon, galvanized and stainless steel coils are heavy for their width. A motorized drive with loop control is the usual start, hydraulic expansion is considered from about 3 t, and a pressing arm controls the outer layer of springy coils. Coils of 5–20 t move to a hydraulic uncoiler with a coil car.
Aluminum, copper and brass coils
A metal coil uncoiler for non-ferrous strip carries less weight but must not mark the surface. Photoelectric or laser loop sensing keeps the strip untouched, and a film peeling device handles protected coils.
Thin, narrow strip
Very narrow strip, such as 50 mm (2.0 in) wide, usually runs on a vertical uncoiler fitted with large, built-to-order bakelite side plates that keep the wraps aligned. Thin strip, up to 1.2 mm (0.047 in) thick and 5–120 mm (0.2–4.7 in) wide, can also lie flat on a disc (horizontal) uncoiler, so it does not bend or tangle under its own weight.
Manual uncoiler
For coils up to 1 t (2,200 lb) that the straightener or feeder can pull, a manual (non-motorized) uncoiler for 200–400 mm (7.9–15.7 in) strip is the simplest option; an adjustable brake limits overrun.
Model data by series
Standard values from the series data sheets. Choose a series; per-model tables for the MT series are on the series pages.
Motorized MT-200 – MT-800: 200–800 mm (7.9–31.5 in) strip · 500 kg–3 t (1,100–6,600 lb) basic load, up to 8 t (17,600 lb) on reinforced or custom builds · coil ID 450–530 mm (17.7–20.9 in), OD 1,200 mm (47.2 in) · 15 m/min (49 ft/min) · 0.75–2.2 kW (1–3 HP) · hand-crank or hydraulic expansion, chosen by coil weight. MT model numbers are width classes, not tonnages: MT-400 is the 400 mm (15.7 in) model. Per-model loads, motors and sizes: MT-200 – MT-800 specifications →
Heavy-coil MT-800 – MT-1600: 800–1,600 mm (31.5–63.0 in) strip · 0.2–6.0 mm (0.008–0.236 in) reference thickness · 5–15 t (11,000–33,000 lb) standard, with hydraulic expansion. Model table and custom builds: MT-800 – MT-1600 →
| Model | MTD-200A | MTD-300A | MTD-400A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material width | 200 mm7.87 in | 300 mm11.81 in | 400 mm15.75 in |
| Material thickness | 0–2.0 mm0–0.079 in | 0–3.0 mm0–0.118 in | 0–3.0 mm0–0.118 in |
| Coil ID / OD | 450–530 / 1,200 mm17.72–20.87 / 47.24 in | 450–530 / 1,200 mm17.72–20.87 / 47.24 in | 450–530 / 1,200 mm17.72–20.87 / 47.24 in |
| Coil weight | 500 kg × 21,102 lb × 2 | 800 kg × 21,764 lb × 2 | 1,200 kg × 22,646 lb × 2 |
| Uncoiling speed | 60 m/min197 ft/min | 60 m/min197 ft/min | 60 m/min197 ft/min |
Uncoiler parts and what each one does
The numbered parts are marked on a heavy-coil MT uncoiler with hydraulic expansion. Hover or tap a number to find it in the list.
- 1Uncoiler mandrel (expanding mandrel)Grips the coil ID across 450–530 mm (17.7–20.9 in); a 508 mm (20 in) ID is the common standard. Expansion is by hand crank or hydraulic, chosen by coil weight; this machine is hydraulic.
- 2Outboard support armSupports the mandrel end under heavy coils so the shaft stays level while it turns.
- 3Drive and main frameCarries the rotating load; the drive turns the mandrel, 3 HP (MT-800) up to 7.5 HP (MT-1600).
- 4Control boxStart, stop, jog and expansion controls; voltage and frequency are matched to the site.
Common options, not shown in the photo
- 5Pressing arm (hold-down arm)Controls the outer coil layer so wraps do not spring loose when the strip is cut or the line stops.
- 6Loop sensingA contact gantry sensor is standard; photoelectric or laser tracking sensing on request.
- 7Coil loading carLifts and travels 3–20 t coils onto the mandrel without a crane.
Key specifications to confirm
An uncoiler has to match both the physical coil and the working rhythm of the whole line. Undersized or wrongly configured, it causes unstable feeding, coil loosening, material damage or lost output.
| Specification | Why it matters | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Coil weight | Decides frame strength, mandrel design and loading method | Maximum coil weight in kg (lb), plus the future material range |
| Width and thickness | Affects support width, rotation stability and pressing arm needs | Minimum and maximum strip width and thickness in mm (in) |
| Coil ID and OD | Sets the mandrel expansion range and outer coil clearance | Inner and outer diameter in mm (in), including your supplier's coil standard |
| Line speed | Decides motorized control, brake and loop sensing | Normal and maximum speed in m/min (ft/min), plus start-stop frequency |
| Downstream machine | Must match the straightener, feeder, press, roll former or cutting line | Line layout, pulling force, loop space and signal or control needs |
Options that change the configuration
Where the uncoiler sits in a coil-fed line
In stamping, the uncoiler works before a straightener, servo feeder and press. The same principle supports roll forming, leveling, shearing, laser feeding and cut-to-length lines for auto parts, appliances, construction hardware and electrical components.
- 1 · UncoilSupport and release the coil
- 2 · BufferKeep a controlled loop
- 3 · StraightenRemove coil set before the die
- 4 · Feed and stampIndex strip into the press
In a press feed line, often called a coil feeding line in Europe, the uncoiler pays strip into a loop; the straightener removes coil set and the servo roll feed (NC series) indexes one pitch per press stroke. The uncoiler follows the loop rather than the press stroke, so loop sensing and a soft start matter more than top speed: motorized MT uncoilers run up to 15 m/min (49 ft/min) with a VFD control box. Where floor space is short, a 2-in-1 uncoiler straightener or a 3-in-1 uncoiler straightener feeder combines the stations; layout examples are in uncoilers for stamping press lines.
In roll forming, the uncoiler keeps the coil on the roll former's centerline and limits overrun when the line slows or stops. A motorized uncoiler with loop control is the usual choice, and a braked non-motorized uncoiler can serve light coils that the roll former can pull. More in roll forming uncoiler: motorized or non-motorized and uncoilers for roll forming lines.
How to choose the right uncoiler
Start from the coil and the downstream process, not the machine name. Confirm the production data first, then choose the frame, mandrel, drive, brake, expansion, sensing and loading configuration.
By coil weight
Start from your heaviest coil and read it against the capacity chart above; each bar links to the matching series or type. Small coils: a light-duty stock reel or a motorized uncoiler. Heavy coils: hydraulic expansion, a support arm, a pressing arm or a coil car. Not sure of the weight? Estimate it with the steel coil weight (PIW) calculator.
By width and thickness
Wide or thick material needs a stronger frame, stable support and better control of coil looseness.
By line type
Stamping, roll forming, leveling, shearing and cut-to-length lines need different speed control and loop arrangements.
By automation
Motorized drive, hydraulic expansion, sensing and coil cars cut manual work and steady the process.
Buying uncoilers from a manufacturer in China
An uncoiler is built around your coil, so compare suppliers on the same coil data and ask each one for the same evidence. HENLI makes uncoilers in its own factory in Dongguan, Guangdong, China, and has exported coil feeding equipment for more than 20 years.
Factory since 2003
HENLI is the brand of Dongguan Xinxiang Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. Buyers can visit the factory and inspect machines before confirming an order.
Build time
Standard uncoilers are usually ready 7–10 days after the configuration is confirmed. Non-standard large projects usually take 15 days or more.
CE and supplier records
A CE certificate is on file for HENLI decoiler (uncoiler) machines, with supplier assessment and patent records for your supplier approval.
Export packing and support
Machines ship in export wooden crates. Installation communication and after-sales coordination continue after delivery.
What sets the uncoiler price
The price of an uncoiler depends mainly on the width class, the basic or reinforced load, hand-crank or hydraulic expansion, and options such as a pressing arm, disc brake, photoelectric or laser tracking loop sensing or a coil loading car. HENLI sells new uncoilers factory-direct, and every uncoiler for sale is quoted from your coil data, line data and site voltage. MT series: price and lead time.
What to confirm with any uncoiler supplier
- 01The coil data behind the quoteMaterial, thickness × width, maximum coil weight and coil ID/OD. Quotes built on different coil data cannot be compared.
- 02Mandrel expansion and ID rangeHand-crank or hydraulic expansion, and the coil ID range the mandrel covers.
- 03Loop control and speedContact, photoelectric or laser tracking loop sensing, and the line speed the drive has to follow.
- 04Power and certificationSite voltage and frequency, control panel language, and CE marking where your market requires it.
- 05A test run before shipmentA video of the machine running with a coil or test load, and the checks made before packing.
- 06Documents and spare partsManual, wiring diagram, spare parts list and export packing details.
Configured around the customer's coil
For the United States, Canada and Mexico we review the actual coil and line data instead of selecting from a regional label. Voltage, frequency, controls and interfaces are matched to the site and confirmed in the approved project specification.
800 mm (31.5 in) wide, 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) thick
A non-standard configuration for wider, heavier-gauge coil. The frame, mandrel, loading and control arrangement were selected around the project data.
MT-1300 uncoiler for 5 t (11,000 lb) coils
Hydraulic expansion, a pressing arm, a support device, VFD speed control and a loading car for controlled heavy-coil setup and payoff.
See the equipment run
Heavy-coil uncoiler with hydraulic expansion: laser loop control compared with contact loop control, with VFD speed control.
Hydraulic coil loading trolley: lift, travel and pendant controls.
45 m/min motorized double head uncoiler, pre-shipment test with laser-sensor speed control.
Go deeper
Selection and engineering
Components and line integration
Uncoiler FAQ
What is an uncoiler machine?
An uncoiler machine holds a metal coil and unwinds strip or sheet into downstream equipment such as a straightener, feeder, press, roll forming machine, shear, laser line or cut-to-length line.
Is an uncoiler the same as a decoiler?
Yes. Both names describe the same coil unwinding machine. Uncoiler is the usual word in North American catalogs and in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan; decoiler is the usual word in the UK and Ireland, continental Europe, India and Australia. North American press feed suppliers also call it a coil reel. Selection depends on coil weight, width, thickness, coil ID/OD, line speed and automation, not on the name.
What uncoiler type is used for stamping lines?
Many stamping lines use a motorized uncoiler, or a heavy-coil uncoiler with hydraulic expansion, matched with a straightener and servo feeder in a press feed line. The right type depends on coil size, thickness, press speed and loading method.
When does an uncoiler need hydraulic expansion?
For heavier or wider coils, frequent loading, or where hydraulic expansion and loading assistance reduce manual work and improve safety.
What specifications are needed before buying an uncoiler?
Material type, coil width, thickness, coil weight, coil ID and OD, line speed, downstream machine, workshop layout and any automation requirements.
Which options improve uncoiler performance?
Motorized drive, frequency control, hydraulic expansion, a pressing arm, a coil car, photoelectric or laser tracking loop sensing, spindle support and braking devices.
What is a steel coil uncoiler?
An uncoiler sized for steel coils. Because steel is heavy for its width, the drive, mandrel expansion and loading are chosen by coil weight: motorized pay-off for most press lines, hydraulic expansion from about 3 t, and a coil car for heavy coils.
Can one uncoiler run steel, aluminum and copper coils?
Often yes, if it is sized for the heaviest coil and protects the softest one. Confirm the maximum coil weight, the coil ID and OD range, and whether the surface needs non-contact loop sensing or film peeling.
What is the difference between a manual and a motorized uncoiler?
A manual (non-motorized) uncoiler has no drive motor: the feeder or straightener pulls the strip, which suits light coils and simple lines. A motorized uncoiler drives the coil and follows the loop, which protects thin or soft strip and keeps heavier coils under control.
What is a cone uncoiler?
A cone (double-cone) uncoiler holds the coil between two cones that enter the coil's inner diameter from each side, instead of an expanding mandrel inside it. The cones center and clamp the coil, which suits heavy coils and a wide range of coil IDs. HENLI's motorized and heavy-coil uncoilers use expanding mandrels; send your coil data if you need to compare the two designs.
Is a coil reel or a coil cradle the same as an uncoiler?
A coil reel is the same machine: North American press feed suppliers say coil reel or motorized reel for a mandrel uncoiler, and stock reel for light-duty units. A coil cradle is a different design: it has no mandrel and carries the coil on rollers by its outside diameter, mostly for thicker strip. HENLI uncoilers hold the coil by its bore, on an expanding mandrel or adjustable coil supports, except the disc (horizontal) type, where the coil lies flat on a turntable.
How heavy a coil can an uncoiler handle?
It depends on the type. On HENLI data sheets, CR light-duty stock reels take coils up to 100 kg (220.5 lb); manual MT uncoilers 500 kg–1 t (1,100–2,200 lb); motorized MT uncoilers 500 kg–3 t (1,100–6,600 lb) as standard and up to 8 t (17,600 lb) on reinforced or custom builds; disc (horizontal) uncoilers 500 kg–2 t (1,100–4,400 lb) of thin strip; and heavy-coil models with hydraulic expansion, 800–1,600 mm (31.5–63.0 in) wide, 5–15 t (11,000–33,000 lb) as standard and up to 20 t (44,000 lb) to order. All t values are metric tonnes (1 t = 1,000 kg, about 2,200 lb). Size the machine for the heaviest coil and the widest strip you plan to run.
Which uncoiler suits narrow strip, such as 50 mm (2.0 in) wide?
Usually a vertical mandrel uncoiler with large bakelite side plates, built to order, which support the narrow wraps and keep them aligned. Thin, narrow strip can also run flat on a disc (horizontal) uncoiler, and small coils up to 100 kg (220.5 lb) on a CR light-duty stock reel. Send the strip thickness and width, coil weight, coil OD and line speed, and an engineer will confirm the layout.
How long does it take to build an uncoiler?
At HENLI, standard uncoilers and other non-large projects are usually ready 7–10 days after the configuration is confirmed. Non-standard large projects usually take 15 days or more and are scheduled by project. Shipping time depends on the destination.
