Executive summary Our automatic pipe coiling cell winds pipe straight from the line without an accumulator. Pipe feeds in directly from the line, and the coiling head turns inside a guarded cell, winding the coil as the pipe arrives. With no accumulator, the winder speed follows the line speed, the cell needs less floor space, and there is no buffer loop to maintain.
Table of Contents
- What the machine does
- Why no accumulator
- Coiling time per coil
- What we set per coil
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the machine does
The coiling cell sits at the end of an extrusion line and converts continuous pipe into neat, manageable coils ready for strapping, packaging and dispatch.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Feed | Pipe feeds in from the line into the coiler guide |
| Winding | The coiling head turns inside the cell, laying the pipe evenly across the core |
| Guarding | The cell is fenced with mesh panels |
| Control | An operator panel beside the cell carries the settings and status |
| Line | The extrusion line feeds the cell continuously |
Because there is no buffer between the line and the winder, the coiling head tracks the line speed as the pipe arrives, and each coil is wound in step with production.
Why no accumulator
Many pipe plants place an accumulator — a tower or loop that stores a length of pipe — between the haul-off and the winder, so the winder can stop for cutting and coil change while the extruder keeps running. An accumulator works, but it costs space and parts. Winding straight from the line removes both:
- Less floor space. No accumulator loop is needed before the winder, so the cell sits directly at the end of the line.
- Speed follows the line. The winder drive matches the line speed, with the length counted by an encoder and the cut made at the target length [manufacturer rating].
- Fewer parts. No buffer tower, pulleys or counterweights to maintain.
- Guarded. The winder turns inside a fenced cell, so the rotating machinery stays inside one guarded footprint.
To wind straight from the line, the cell relies on four functions built into the coiling head [manufacturer rating]: encoder length measurement, cut-to-length at the target metre count, tension control on the incoming pipe, and automatic layering so the wraps lie evenly across the coil width.
Coiling time per coil
Without an accumulator, the winding time follows directly from the line speed. Worked example (illustrative):
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Pipe per coil (illustrative) | 100 m |
| Line speed (illustrative) | 20 m/min |
| Winding time, 100 ÷ 20 | 5 min |
| Coils per hour, winding time only, 60 ÷ 5 | 12 |
The hourly output above counts winding time only; the cut and coil change add to it. For context within the same machine family, the FCL-S1600 vertical coiler is rated up to 100 m/min coiling speed [manufacturer rating] — confirm the rating for your pipe size and coil dimensions at inquiry.
What we set per coil
| Setting | Depends on |
|---|---|
| Winder speed | Line speed |
| Coil size | Pipe diameter |
| Length | Metres per coil |
| Coil change | Line speed and coil size |
The settings are stored as recipes in the controller, and the winder speed is adjusted by inverter, so a change of pipe diameter or metres per coil is a program change rather than a mechanical rebuild [manufacturer rating].
Selection checklist
- Pipe outer diameter.
- Line speed.
- Metres per coil.
- Coil size.
- Floor space.
- Coil change time.
Safety
- Stay outside the fence while the winder turns.
- Do not reach into the cell.
- Lock out before clearing a jam.
- For CE markets, the machine is designed to ISO 12100 and EN 415-10.
Engineering FAQ
Q: What does “without an accumulator” mean? A: The winder takes pipe straight from the line with no buffer loop.
Q: How long does a coil take? A: 5 min for 100 m at 20 m/min in the worked example.
Q: How many coils per hour? A: 12 in the worked example, counting winding time only; cut and coil change add to it.
Q: Is the winder guarded? A: Yes, it turns inside a fenced cell, and the cell access is interlocked.
Q: How does the coil change work? A: Cut and coil change are timed to the line speed; the method is set per project.
Q: How does this in-line cell compare with standalone coilers? A: Standalone models in the same family, such as the FCL-S1600, cover larger coils and higher speeds [manufacturer rating]; the in-line cell is sized to your line speed and coil specification.
Q: Which standards apply? A: For CE markets, ISO 12100 and EN 415-10.
Next step
We match a pipe coiling cell in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with pipe size, line speed and metres per coil, to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours with the machine data and layout.
- Book a site survey so we confirm the extrusion line.
Related reading
- Automatic Pipe Coiling and Wrapping Machine
- Double Wall Corrugated Hose Coiling and Strapping
- Automatic Steel Wire Coiler for Winding and Strapping
- Automatic packing line
Sources
- Machine content: FHOPE engineering team, 2026-10-10
- Machine in action: the machine on YouTube
- Coiling time: our worked example, illustrative values
- Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010; EN 415-10:2014
- Proposal timing: approved house CTA (proposal within 48 hours)
Last reviewed: 2026-10-29
