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Types of Industrial Reeling Drums and Their Applications

March 20, 2024

Industrial reeling drums (also known as cable reels or cable drums) are used to safely transport cables and hoses within industrial settings. Compared with loose cables, industrial reeling drums keep cables free from tangles and other damage that could be costly to repair, and even hazardous depending on the setting. 

Metreel is a leading UK supplier of industrial reeling drums including spring-operated cable drums along with motor driven cable and hose reels. 

Here is an overview of the types of industrial reeling drums that exist, along with their usage purposes.

SD30 Reel cut out v4 1 700x700 1 from Metreel

Spring Operated Industrial Reeling Drums

As the name suggests, spring reeling drums use spring mechanisms which provide automatic cable retraction. Spring-operated industrial reeling drums are commonly used in conjunction with material handling equipment such as overhead cranes and gantry cranes, which are products we supply here at Metreel.  

Manual Industrial Reeling Drums

Not all reeling drums have external power, as it is also possible to find manual reeling drums. The usage examples of manual reeling drums often include light applications such as small workshops or DIY projects. While not an example of an industrial application, a garden hose is also considered to be a manual reeling drum. Therefore, while manual drums have their uses, the lack of hydraulic power means manual cable reels aren’t always the best fit for industrial settings.

what are cable reels cable reeling uk metreel

Motorised Reeling Drums

Motorised reeling drums are ideal for controlled deployment and retraction of cables and hoses. It is common to find reeling drums with motorised mechanisms within manufacturing and material handling environments. Simply put, having control over cable deployment and retraction offers safety and convenience for various tasks.

Steel Industrial Reeling Drums 

Beyond the functionality of a reeling drum, the materials used can also be selected to suit certain environments, including steel reeling drums. Geared towards heavy-duty applications, steel industrial reeling drums are used within construction, mining and marine industries. Steel provides excellent strength and durability, making this material ideal for handling heavy cables, ropes, hoses and wires with ease. 

Hydraulic Industrial Reeling Drums

Suited to heavy-duty applications where precise control and high torque are the order of the day, hydraulic industrial reeling drums utilise hydraulic power to deploy and retract cables. Applications which often require hydraulic reeling drums include offshore rigs, ship mooring systems and material handling.  

Metreel – Industrial Reeling Drums UK

Metreel supplies industrial reeling drums to industries including construction, steel manufacturing, wastewater, chemical plants, nuclear power plants, theatres and more. 

If you are looking to procure industrial reeling drums for your business then you’re in the right place. Metreel is based in Derbyshire, and we supply industrial products across the UK.

To view our cable drums and other industrial solutions in full, download our product brochure to see our product specifications. 

Alternatively, give us a call on 0115 932 7010 or email us at [email protected] to discuss your industrial cable drum requirements with our team.