Stainless Steel Reel Handling

Reel and roll handling refers to safely lifting, transporting, rotating, positioning, loading (or unloading) of cylindrical materials—film, foil, paper, textiles, etc. In industrial, food, pharmaceutical or packaging operations, reels and rolls can be heavy, awkward, and risky to move manually. Proper handling systems improve safety, reduce damage, speed up workflows, and help meet hygiene or regulatory requirements.

Packline is a UK-based designer and manufacturer offering a range of reel or roll lifting and handling equipment engineered to address these challenges.

Reel & roll handling, when done properly, improves workplace safety, reduces waste/damage, speeds up operations, and ensures compliance with hygiene or safety standards. Packline offers a wide spectrum of solutions—from simple dollies, to fully motorised stainless steel reel lifters with rotation, grip, safety features and bespoke attachments. The key is matching the right features to your environment, load types, frequency of use—and investing in quality, safety and ergonomics.

Packline’s reel & roll handling equipment falls into a few categories, each suited to different situations: stainless steel vs painted mild steel; manual, semi-powered or fully motorised; and various attachments to suit core gripping, outer diameter gripping, vertical or horizontal orientations.

Here are some of the main varieties and special features:

• Stainless Steel ‘Compac’ Range: Designed for clean-room or high-hygiene environments (food, pharmaceutical etc.). Smaller footprint, compact design, stainless or polished finishes. Available with motorised, manual or gearbox assisted drive.
• Painted Mild Steel: More suited to general industrial settings. These are adjustable, often come as stacker trucks with interchangeable attachments.
• Attachments & Accessories: Various attachments such as vertical spindles (gripping the core), roll clamps, twin spindles, hinged spindles, side-shift mechanisms, omnibooms for multi-directional rotation, etc.
• Low Profile Reel Dolly: A good example of a simpler device to handle horizontal reels, specifically to move them from pallets, allowing easy loading/unloading. Good when you need mobility but less complex lifting/rotation. Up to standard sizes (roll width ~800mm, diameter ~1,400mm as standard) but bespoke options exist.
• Safety Features: Two-button safety functions, emergency stop, overload limits, electro-mechanical brakes, non-marking antistatic wheels, etc. Especially critical in motorised units.

When selecting equipment like Packline’s, several factors should guide you:

1. Material & Environment
   • If working in food, pharmaceutical, chemical, or similar high-care/hygiene environments, stainless steel or polished hygienic finishes are essential.
   • For general industrial settings, mild steel painted units may suffice and are likely more cost-effective.
2. Load Weight, Size, & Reel Core / Diameter
   • Know the maximum weight of your reels (Packline’s stainless steel vertical spindle can handle up to ~300kg, with higher bespoke capacities available).
   • Reel core size (3” / 6” etc.), outside diameter, width—all affect what attachments you need. Some units use core gripping, others outer diameter grippers.
3. Operation Type: Manual vs Powered
   • Manual operation is simpler, cheaper, and may suffice for lighter loads or less frequent handling.
   • Motorised units offer lift, rotation, and grip mechanisms with power assistance, reducing operator fatigue and improving efficiency. But they cost more, require maintenance, power supply or batteries etc.
4. Footprint & Mobility
   • In tight or restricted spaces, compact designs are crucial. The Packline “Compac” line emphasises small footprints.
   • Wheels, swivel castors, possibly powered locomotion if large or heavy loads need moving.
5. Safety & Compliance
   • Meets UK/EU /CE /UKCA regulations, emergency stops, overload protection.
   • Proper documentation, risk assessments etc. Also training for staff who operate the machines. Packline also offers manual handling training.
6. Bespoke Customisation
   • Many standard models exist, but Packline offers bespoke design and attachments, often needed to match unusual reel formats, special materials, or integration with existing machinery.

• Carry out a handling audit: Understand all the reel movements in your operation—how often, from where to where, orientations, etc. This helps pick the right equipment and attachments.
• Match capacity to peak loads: Choose a machine that can handle not just average loads, but the heaviest ones you use, with some safety margin.
• Train operators: Even with automated/power-assisted lifting, correct use is essential. Misuse of fixtures or exceeding load/torque limits can cause damage or accidents.
• Plan for maintenance: Motorised units need regular checks of motors, brakes, emergency stop systems; stainless steel units need cleaning if used in hygienic settings.
• Integration: Make sure any reel handling equipment works with your slitting, packaging, unwinding/rewinding machines in terms of loading orientation and transfer angles.
• Hygiene and cleaning: If in food or pharma, ensure that surfaces are accessible for washdown. Stainless steel or hygienic finishes resist corrosion and simplify cleaning. Avoid crevices, difficult corners.
• Future-proofing: If you anticipate different reel diameters, weights, or attachments in future, choosing modular or interchangeable attachments is good investment. Packline’s quick-release systems and interchangeable attachments are helpful here.

Safe, Hygienic, and Custom-Built Reel Handling Solutions
Engineered in stainless steel for cleanroom and industrial environments – built to lift smarter, safer, and more efficiently.

• Hygienic Stainless-Steel Construction – Ideal for cleanroom, pharmaceutical, and food-grade environments with full washdown compatibility.
• Custom-Built Solutions – Tailored lifting systems designed to suit your exact reel or roll dimensions, weights, and handling requirements.
• Wide Range of Attachments – Core grippers, mandrel lifters, spindle lifts, and more to handle film, foil, paper, and packaging reels safely and efficiently.
• Ergonomic and Safe Operation – Designed to reduce manual handling risks and improve operator comfort, reducing workplace injuries.
• Compatible with Various Industries – Trusted by companies in food, pharmaceutical, chemical, packaging, printing, and manufacturing sectors.
• UK Design and Manufacture – Precision-engineered lifting solutions made in the UK, ensuring quality, reliability, and fast turnaround times.
• Manual and Powered Options – Choose from a range of manual, semi-electric, and fully powered lifting systems to match your process needs.
• Durable and Corrosion-Resistant – Built to withstand harsh environments and continuous use with minimal maintenance.
• Compact, Space-Saving Designs – Perfect for use in restricted production areas or narrow aisles without compromising on performance.
• Proven Track Record – Over 25 years of experience delivering safe, efficient, and compliant reel handling solutions worldwide.

Ready to Improve Your Reel Handling Process?
Contact Packline today to discuss your specific requirements and discover how our custom-built stainless steel reel lifting equipment can transform your operations.

Ideally suited for clean room environments, the Stainless Steel Compac range of Reel and Roll Handling Equipment from Packline, is popular both here and worldwide, proving to be a winner with customers operating in the following industries:-

• Food and Drinks
• Dairy
• Pharmaceutical
• Medical
• Chemical

The purpose-designed compact framework, positioning of handlebars and addition of an optional joystick control and remote control device provide improved manoeuvrability and ease of use for the operator. The incredibly small footprint makes the Compac Lifting Machine highly manoeuvrable and a natural choice for today’s narrow production lines and demanding lifting requirements.

Taking account of the latest UK health and safety standards and EU directives, additional safety features have been incorporated to further protect operating personnel and satisfy the increasing demands of insurance companies.

Safety Features include:-

• Safety two-button function prevents the operator from inadvertently dropping the load.
• Emergency Stop Button.
• Overload limit – prevents exceeding SWL and accidental damage.
• Electro-mechanical brake holds load at required height in case of power failure.
• Rear swivel castors with safety foot guard and brake.

Designed to lift, transport and position loads, the Compac has been the name associated with top quality, reliable, stainless steel lifters for many years; and the latest model, the Mk5.1 has been developed following extensive market research into the lifting and handling needs of today’s modern production environment.

The Compac is flexible in design, ergonomic, operator friendly, easy to use, and, with its range of features and functionality it meets the needs of today’s lifting requirements.

Primarily manufactured from stainless steel, the Mk5.1 Compac is ideal for industries where hygiene and resistance to chemicals is of paramount importance including Food and Dairy, Medical, Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics.

With a small footprint and easy operation, the Compac can be used in the confined work spaces and narrow production lines found in many of today’s modern manufacturing environments.

Available in two standard models with maximum lifting capacities of 150kg, and 300kg, along with a variety of frame configurations and a comprehensive range of interchangeable attachments, the Compac is an ideal choice for most lifting applications. A full design and manufacture bespoke service is also available.

Engineered and tested to our own exacting quality standards, the Compac has been designed to provide a low maintenance, reliable and robust machine that has been built to last.

The Compac Lifting Machine is designed and manufactured in the UK. Considering operator safety at all times, the Compac has been designed to meet the latest international Health & Safety directives, CE and UKCA approved with supporting risk assessment, technical files and documentation.