Cable Roller & Unrolling Tips | Professional Solutions | Retools

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Cable Unwinding Systems    
 
Unwinding cables and wires is part of everyday life in electrical and infrastructure construction. Especially with large cable lengths, various cable drum sizes, and their sometimes significant drum weights, a well-thought-out cable unwinding system is crucial to save time, reduce strain, and avoid damage. However, unwinding systems are not only required for cables but also facilitate work when unwinding pipes, hoses, wires, etc.
reTools GmbH offers professional cable unwinding systems ranging from universal, mobile models to robust heavy-duty versions, which further increase the efficiency of cable pulling systems.
 Do you recognize these challenges in basic house installations?
 
Tiringly carrying wires from room to room, damaged boxes/blisters, tangled wires, and having to constantly straighten the wires for pulling?
An unwinding system that holds wires neatly, always unwinds them straight, and can be easily moved from room to room without further effort.
► Our recommendations: CB 260 are stackable boxes for wires and low-voltage cables. The boxes can be easily moved on transport wheels.
 
Defective disposable cable drums that can no longer be unwound and are placed on a stepladder with an iron pipe, which constantly falls over and poses a danger?
A product that allows even defective cable drums to unwind because the drum is spun off horizontally instead of vertically.
► Our recommendations: XB 500, XB 500 T and XB 300 – the all-rounders for any cable drum up to 800 kg, as well as for cable rings.
 
On a large construction site with different tasks like conduit installation on concrete ceilings, laying grounding conductors, laying out power distributors – many unwinding tools are required:
An unwinding system for all requirements that stays on the construction site and doesn't need to be checked out as a pool tool.
► Our recommendations: XB 500, XB 500 T – one tool, the all-rounder.
 
When developing PV systems, you need to unwind PV strings from a small cable drum, but tangling often occurs:
The PV strings do not spiral during unwinding but remain straight, which optimizes further processing.
► Our recommendations: XB 300 incl. multi-function mandrel for additional cable rings.
 
You need to retrofit cables in all rooms of a commercial building and move the cable drum from room to room:
An unwinding system where the cable drum is no longer carried but wheeled to the next room.
► Our recommendations: XB 500, XB 500 T with roller adapter plate or cable drum roller Pro 530 / 670 with transport castors.
 
Large cable drums weighing over 1000 kg that must be unwound on different terrains, even on slopes:
A flexible and easily transportable unwinding system that is height-adjustable for different drum diameters and overcomes the frictional resistance of heavy cable drums.
► Our recommendations: RunpoLifter with up to 4500 kg load capacity or unwinding rails AS 900 with 1700 kg load capacity.
Cable drum cannot be placed near the conduit entry. The cable or pulling rope must be pulled around corners and over edges, but neither the cable, pulling rope, nor building parts must be damaged:
► General Recommendation: Use the matching unwinding system and cable pulling system or mechanical pulling aid.
More about the individual cable unwinding systems
X-Boards (Cable drum unwinder)
Compact, loadable up to 800 kg, ready for use anywhere: X-Boards unwind cable rings (even in two layers), pipes, and drums (including damaged ones) cleanly – without tangling cables or pipes. T-variant for larger pipe diameters and filling heights up to 390 mm.
Complementary foot adapter plate for concrete inserts or roller adapter plate to move cable drums from room to room.
The PRO roller securely holds drums up to Ø 1000 mm. Adjustable support rollers (distances 85–335 mm), dust-sealed bearings, robust ball bearings, and rubberized feet ensure quiet, low-maintenance work – every day on the construction site. Swivel castors can be retrofitted for quick position changes.
RunpoLifter
Mobile cable drum lifter for heavy-duty applications: lifts drums up to 4,500 kg and Ø 1600 mm. Two-stage gear (rapid/load stroke), self-locking spindle – no pinning required. Incl. drum shaft with heavy-duty slide bearings for easy unwinding; quick-release centering cones speed up setup. Foldable, transport-friendly, mobile with transport wheels.
Cable Guide Rollers
For clean pulling paths at corners, openings, shafts, and conduit entries: Guide rollers reduce friction, protect the cable jacket, and guide cables in a controlled manner. Multiple designs from one to six rollers in a chain or with entry pipe. Suitable from interior construction to network infrastructure. Saves power, time, and complaints during installation.
Unwinding Rails AS 900
Unwind heavy drums safely: For Ø 450–2000 mm (recommended workload up to 800 kg). Stainless steel/aluminum construction with maintenance-free, ball-bearing heavy-duty rollers, 3-way adjustable. Unwinding brake for quick drum change; slim 2-part design for tight spaces or parallel work with several types of cables.
CB 260 CableBox (Single Core Unwinder)
Order and speed on the construction site and in cabinet construction: modular stackable/fixable, quick roll change via push button & twist lock, non-slip feet. For bundles up to Ø 26 cm, max. 7 kg, with clean outlet guide and brake – no more mess and waste, ideal for single cores and low-voltage cables.