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Cable Unwinding Systems    
 
Unwinding cables and wires is part of everyday life in electrical and infrastructure construction. Especially with long cable lengths, varying cable drum sizes, and their sometimes significant drum weights, a well-thought-out cable unwinding system is crucial to save time, reduce physical strain, and prevent 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 for these purposes, ranging from universal and mobile models to robust heavy-duty versions, which further enhance the performance of cable pulling systems.
 Are you familiar with the following problems in simple house installations? 
 
Laboriously carrying wires from room to room, damaged boxes/blister packs, wire tangles, and having to painstakingly straighten the wires repeatedly before pulling them in?
An unwinding system that neatly holds wires, always unwinds them straight, and can be easily transported from room to room without extra 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, propped up with an iron pipe between two step ladders that constantly fall over and pose a danger?
A product that allows even defective cable drums to be unwound because the drum is unspooled laterally 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 coils.
 
On a large construction site with various operations such as pipe installation in concrete slabs, laying grounding conductors, laying out cables for site power distributors, pulling in cables for provisional lighting – many tools are required for the unwinding work:
An unwinding system for all requirements that remains on the construction site and doesn't need to be checked out from a tool pool.  
► Our recommendations: XB 500, XB 500 T one tool, the all-rounder.
 
When developing PV systems, you have to unwind PV strings from a small cable drum, but this often leads to a tangle.
During unwinding, the PV strings do not spiral, but remain straight, which optimizes further processing. 
► Our recommendations: XB 300 incl. Multi-function mandrel for additional cable coils.
 
 
You have to pull cables in all rooms of a commercial building and move the cable drum from room to room.
An unwinding system where the cable drum no longer has to be carried to the next room but can be wheeled instead.   
► Our recommendations: XB 500, XB 500 T with Adapter Plate Rollers or Cable Drum Unwinder Pro 530 / 670 with Transport Rollers. 
 
Large cable drums weighing over 1000 kg that must be repeatedly unwound on different terrain, even on a slope:
A flexible and easily transportable unwinding system that is also height-adjustable due to different drum diameters and provides friction resistance for heavy cable drums.  
► Our recommendations: RunpoLifter with up to 4500 kg load capacity or AS 900 Unwinding Rails with 1700 kg load capacity
 
Cable drum cannot be placed near the conduit entry. The cables or the pulling rope must be pulled around corners and over edges, but neither the cable, pulling rope, nor building parts should be damaged:
 
 
More about the individual cable unwinding systems
 
XBoards (Cable Drum Unwinder/Rewinder) 
Compact, load-bearing up to 800 kg, ready for use anywhere: XBoards unwind cable coils, even double-layered, pipes, and drums (including defective drums) cleanly – without tangled cables or pipes. T-variant for larger pipe diameters and filling heights up to 390 mm.  
Supplementary Adapter Plate Feet for concrete inserts or Adapter Plate Roller to wheel cable drums from room to room.
Form 
The PRO unwinder safely accommodates drums up to Ø 1000 mm. Adjustable support rollers (distances 85–335 mm), closed bearings against dust, robust ball bearings, and rubberized feet ensure quiet, low-maintenance work – daily on the construction site. Steering rollers can be retrofitted for quick position changes.
Form 
Mobile cable drum lifter for heavy-duty use: lifts drums up to 4,500 kg and Ø 1600 mm. Two-speed gearbox (rapid/load lift), self-locking spindle – no pinning required. Incl. drum shaft with heavy-duty sliding bearings for easy unwinding; quick-release centering cones speed up set-up. Foldable, transport-friendly, mobile with Transport Wheels.
Form 
 
For clean pull 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 available, from one to six rollers in a Chain or with Entry Pipe. Suitable for everything from interior finishing to network infrastructure. Saves effort, time, and complaints during installation. 
 
Safely unwind heavy drums: 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 changes; slim 2-part design for tight spaces or parallel work with multiple cable types.
 
Order and speed on the construction site and in control cabinet construction: modular stackable/fixable, quick roller change via push button & twist lock, non-slip feet. For bundles up to Ø 26 cm, max. 7 kg, with clean exit guide and brake – no more mess and waste, ideal for single cores and low-voltage cables.