Skip to content
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Loading a coil onto a decoiler

How to prepare the decoiler, lift a new coil into place, and unstrap the coil

Operators will load a new coil when there is no coil on the decoiler or when it is time to change coils.

DANGER! Handling steel coils presents serious risk of injury due to steel weight and machinery. To reduce risk of injury:

  • Staff must be trained in the procedures and on the equipment for moving, loading, and unloading coils.

  • All lifting equipment must be certified to safely lift the maximum coil weight used in your operation.

  • Coils must be securely strapped or restrained before moving or loading. This prevents sudden unwinding of the coiled steel, which can cause serious injury.

DANGER! Always wear protective boots, cut-resistant gloves, and hi-vis clothing when handling or moving steel coils.

Note - tools required: cutting tool (shears or electric nibbler), decoiler winder handle (stored on decoiler)

Locate the correct coil

Locate a coil that matches the Gauge and Yield in your job specification, and that has the correct strip width for the roll-former. Refer to the coil’s mill certificate for information.

Prepare the decoiler

Make sure the machine is in an emergency stopped state. 

DANGER! Loading steel requires access to machine danger zones. Do not proceed until the machine is in an Emergency Stopped state.

1.  Loosen the three decoiler safety guard locking nuts.

2. Rotate safety guard to align locking bolts with holes, then pull safety guard back to remove it. 

3. Use the decoiler winder handle to collapse (loosen) the mandrel shoe plates. Turn handle counterclockwise until there is enough of a gap for a coil to pass.

4. Rotate the decoiler mandrel until the backplate's flat side and cut-out are face up.

Load the coil

NOTE! The following includes illustrations with a travelling gantry and electric hoist. Ask your organization for specific instructions if you are using other equipment.

1. Use lifting equipment to center the coil around the mandrel. Maintain tension in the strop. Do not put the full weight of the coil on the decoiler yet.

Ensure that:

  • steel will unwind from top of coil
  • coil is aligned with roll-former Infeed
  • there is 10mm (3/8”) space between coil and decoiler backplate

2. Use the decoiler winder handle to expand the mandrel shoe plates. Turn the handle clockwise until the plates touch the coil’s inside diameter.

NOTE! You may need to take to adjust the coil’s vertical position while expanding the shoe plates. This may take some trial and error.

3. Remove the strop and release the full weight of the coil onto the mandrel.

4. Use the decoiler winder to expand the shoe plates and distribute the coil weight evenly around the mandrel. Plates should be snug against the coil's inner diameter. Do not overly tighten the plates.

5. Replace the safety guard and tighten the locking nuts.

Unstrap the coil

Operators can use a cutting tool (shears or electric nibbler) to unstrap the coil.

DANGER! Take extreme caution: the end of the strip will unwind quickly from the coil when you cut the strap. 

DANGER! Do not proceed until area behind decoiler is free of people.

1. Hold the end of the coil down firmly and cut the strap.

2. Carefully let go of the end of the coil. The coil will release into the area behind the decoiler.

3. Pull the strip over the top of the coil and through the dancer arm.

You can now feed the strip into the roll-former.