Compared to equivalent packaging, REELEX is the cheapest cost per package even with usage fees. Because the REELEX coil does not require an inner support structure, the package is greatly simplified compared to a spool or reel-in-a-box. As a result, REELEX packaging costs is approximately 50% less than equivalent spool packaging, even including the usage fee.

Yes, however you will likely be unable to achieve maximum performance from your REELEX machine. This is because underpowered payoffs spend more time accelerating or decelerating then running at full speed.  To achieve the specified rate of production from your REELEX machine, you must utilize a payoff that is capable of rapidly accelerating and decelerating a supply reel and keep it under control.

If you plan to use a non-REELEX payoff with REELEX coiling machines, the payoff must:

  • Have a four-quandrant regenerative DC drive.
  • Accept inputs from a 1K to 5K Ohm potentiometer signal from the UDA dancer.
  • Be designed for rapid acceleration and deceleration from stop to full speed approximately 30 times per hour.
  • Have adequate power to accelerate a full supply reel from stop to full speed in approximately 10 seconds.

ProFlex is a patented technology whose use is administered through a current and signed license agreement.

All products packaged by ProFlex, whether REELEX coils or not, use unique technology licensed by REELEX Packaging Solutions, Inc.

ProFlex is part of the REELEX umbrella of patents, thus a current REELEX license agreement gives full rights to the use of ProFlex packaging.

No additional fees are payable to REELEX beyond those currently paid for the use of the REELEX system of patents.

Non-REELEX licensees must sign a separate license agreement to use ProFlex packaging. Royalty fees are indicated below. A US$3,500.00 one-time license fee is paid upon signing the license agreement.

Absolutely! ProFlex packaging is not restricted to just REELEX coils.

Selecting a payout tube type depends mostly on product characteristics. Generally, the larger the product diameter, the larger the tube diameter.

REELEX recommends that all products larger than 0.20 inches in diameter (⌀ 5 mm) should use REELEX II or REELEX AIR. These larger tube types should also be used with products that have inherent twist (such as twisted-pair cables), or are relatively inflexible.

REELEX I payout tubes are recommended for flexible products less than 0.20 inches in diameter (⌀ 5 mm) and coil sizes less than 12 inches diameter (⌀ 305 mm).

REELEX I.5 or EcoCore tubes are between REELEX I and REELEX II / AIR and are recommended for products less than 0.20 inches in diameter (⌀ 5 mm).

Payout tube length depends on coil diameter and mandrel size. Generally the smallest tube size that may be used should protrude at least 1 inch past the inside of the coil wall. The longest tube that may be used should not exceed 50% of the coil diameter (in other words, should not protrude past the center of the coil).

For a guide and selection chart based on coil and mandrel sizes, please download the guide here:

Yes! In most cases, REELEX AIR tubes can be used in place of the MP60 tube without changes to your current box design. Generally speaking, REELEX AIR is 100% backwards compatible and can be a direct drop-in tube for REELEX II packages. This means you can take advantage of many of REELEX AIR’s features, including cost savings without making any other changes to your packaging.

Please contact us if you have questions or would like samples.

REELEX can no longer provide replacements or spares. These components are critical to the functioning of older REELEX equipment. Thus, when these components break, REELEX may not be able to provide support, resulting in the machine no longer functioning.

No! The royalty fee associated with licensing REELEX pays for all past, present and future patents and know-how.

Thinking about changing your packaging? Let us help! We have over 40 years of packaging expertise.

While many parts on a REELEX machine can be purchased elsewhere, these obsolete cards and circuit boards are unique to REELEX machines and are manufactured specifically for REELEX equipment. They are becoming obsolete because REELEX can no longer find the components required to manufacture or repair the boards, as our suppliers are obsoleting or no longer offering the electrical components.

Given the overall age of these machines, we strongly suggest replacing them with new equipment such as the S320 or M340, as our newest machine offerings rely much less on unique and specific components and are likely to be supported long into the future.

We expect that our spare supplies of these components will be depleted over the next year and will begin to reach critical scarcity starting in mid-2022.

Correct. Our engineers have been scouring suppliers and even eBay to procure the components needed to support these circuits. Unfortunately the components required are simply no longer available or becoming obsolete themselves.

Yes! REELEX offers a field-retrofittable upgrade kit for D-2000s and D-2050s. This kit will make relatively minor changes to the gating mechanism, box table and switches, allowing REELEX AIR to be used on all automated REELEX packaging machines.

The only other change required will be adjustments to box sizing, if you choose to take advantage of the smaller box size. If not, REELEX AIR tubes are backwards compatible with existing box designs.

Eventually, perhaps. After over 20 years of success, we believe REELEX AIR offers a more affordable, higher-performance drop-in replacement to the MP60. That being said, we will continue to support the MP60 for some time to come.

We anticipate REELEX AIR to be readily available starting in 2Q22, and will be supplied by Axjo; REELEX’s payout tube partner.

Besides the 10% reduction in payout tube unit pricing, an increase of up to 50% more boxes per pallet translates to over 30% reduction in shipping costs per box. Let us make samples of your product to determine exact savings.

REELEX AIR is currently only available in a 6-inch long variant. Ultimately, we anticipate having 4, 6 and 8 inch (10cm, 15cm and 20cm) variants.

Yes! REELEX AIR is a direct drop-in replacement for the MP60 REELEX II tube. You can take advantage of REELEX AIR’s improved payout and cost savings without making any other changes, as long as your current box has the small “v” cutouts on the inside flaps of your REELEX II box.

REELEX AIR offers improved payout performance for most products. This is due to two unique design features: 

  • The entry point of the tube now has a rounded edge, smoothing the contact point of the cable with the tube and increasing bend radius. This rounded input edge has the effect of smoothing jacket imperfections, providing less physical impact on the cable and providing the installer with an even smoother, quicker payout feel.
  • The open sided design of the tube, when combined with the larger rounded entry “ring” acts as a small protrusion on the inside of the coil. This dimension serves as a guide to restrict premature unravelling of the REELEX coil which can occasionally cause payout issues in some products. This can be of particular benefit to highly flexible products or products with inherent twist.

By allowing the coil to compress and removing negative space, REELEX AIR offers a savings of 1 to 3 inches (up to 75 mm) in package width compared to existing REELEX II packaging.

Less width translates to more boxes on a pallet and huge increases in shipping efficiency. Smaller boxes are also welcomed by the end-user, with improvements to logistics efficiencies and shelf space utilization.

This results in a potential 25 to 50% increase in shipping density compared to standard REELEX II boxes depending on product type. Narrower boxes mean more boxes on shelves, less space in trucks and easier shipping and handling.

Get Started

First contact us. Let us know what type of product you are packaging and what your goals are. We will provide some ballpark pricing. Next, we will make samples of your product in REELEX packaging for your evaluation. If you like it and wish to become a licensee, you will need three things:

1. Sign a License Agreement

License Agreement

The REELEX License Agreement is a contract signed by all licensees for use of REELEX technology. More information on our licensing model can be found here.

OEMs and Private Labels

Alternatively, if you are having your product manufactured by a current licensee, you can also become a licensee by signing an trademark agreement.

2. Purchase or Rent a REELEX Machine

You will need a REELEX machine to produce REELEX coils.

3. Pay Ongoing Usage Fees

All REELEX licensees pay ongoing usage fees which vary depending on machine type and overall REELEX output. Information on usage fees can be found here.

Ready to get started? Contact us!

Like many licensing arrangements, the customer, or “Licensee”, pays REELEX system usage fees, or “royalties”, that are based upon the production capability of the REELEX coiling machines that they own or rent. These royalties are typically paid annually for those that own up to two REELEX machines, and monthly for those that rent equipment.

For large manufacturers operating three or more coiling machines, the annual fees are based upon a customer’s annual sales volume of REELEX packages. These are considered “variable” fees. More information on the Royalty schedule structure can be found here.

The Royalty fees are collected from ALL REELEX licensees. Everyone with a D-750 pays the same fee regardless of how long they have been a customer, or how many machines they have. The small companies can compete equally with large companies with no favoritism. These royalties keep REELEX in business so we can continue to provide parts, service, know-how and decades worth of R&D to our customers. Without the royalty fee REELEX would be out of business very soon, and so would service and parts to support over 300 active REELEX machines, over 100 major cable producing facilities and thousands upon thousands of distributors around the globe.

Simply put – because REELEX could not survive on machine sales alone. Our annual machine sales are not very many, and thus with 40+ employees the cost of running the business would force machine prices to be extraordinarily high. This would make the barrier to adopt REELEX much too expensive and nobody would buy machines.

Thus, if REELEX tried to survive from machine and part sales alone we would be out of business. Instead, REELEX sells machines “at cost”. This means that when REELEX sells a machine it includes material, labor, development costs and overhead, but no profit.

The Royalty fees are collected from ALL REELEX licensees. Everyone with a D-750 pays the same fee regardless of how long they have been a customer, or how many machines they have. The small companies can compete equally with large companies with no favoritism. These royalties keep REELEX in business so we can continue to provide parts, service, know-how and decades worth of R&D to our customers. Without the royalty fee REELEX would be out of business very soon, and so would service and parts to support over 300 active REELEX machines, over 100 major cable producing facilities and thousands upon thousands of distributors around the globe.

Fundamental to REELEX licensing is the concept of “know-how”. The REELEX coil and the methodology is trade secret, and has never been patented. This technology and surrounding intellectual knowledge including software programming, proprietary circuitry, formulas, calculations, algorithms, equipment designs and over 40 years of packaging expertise are all included under the “know-how” moniker.

License agreements signed in 2013 or later include global coverage. Previous to 2013, individual agreements were signed per country. For companies with multiple locations, we strongly recommend contacting us to sign the updated agreement, which greatly simplifies and modernizes the REELEX license contract. Contact us for more information.

No. You sign only one License Agreement. This agreement gives you full access to REELEX patents, trademarks, and know-how, including package designs, consultation, software, 40 years of packaging expertise and much more.

All License Agreements contain a “Most Favored Licensee” clause. This clause states that any changes to pricing will be made available to all licensees equally.

This guarantees you that you are paying the same prices for machines and fees as all other companies in your country. All companies, big and small, pay exactly the same amount for machinery, parts and fees.

In accordance with the license agreement, there are no available discounts or special deals available to you or your competitors. If there were, they would be offered to all licensees equally.

Because the REELEX system is a patented technology, the authorized use of these patents, associated trademarks and know-how is administered through the signing of a License Agreement and the paying of usage fees or “Royalties”.

This contract gives the Licensee full access to REELEX’s portfolio of patents and all trademarks associated with the REELEX system, while also entitling the Licensee to unique advantages and benefits guaranteed to them as long as the REELEX system is being utilized.

Royalty fees are collected from ALL REELEX licensees. Everyone with a D-750 pays the same fee regardless of how long they have been a customer, or how many machines they have. The small companies can compete equally with large companies with no favoritism. These royalties keep REELEX in business so we can continue to provide parts, service, know-how and decades worth of R&D to our customers. Without the royalty fee REELEX would be out of business very soon, and so would service and parts to support over 300 active REELEX machines, over 100 major cable producing facilities and thousands upon thousands of distributors around the globe.

License Agreement Obligation

According to the license agreement, all packages containing REELEX coils must have a REELEX trademark logo visible somewhere on the package.

License agreement language has changed subtly over the years, however all agreements include the following language. This is typically found in either Section VIII or Section XI and normally reads as follows:

“LICENSEE agrees that it shall label all Packages produced pursuant to this Agreement, whether labeled as being manufactured by the LICENSEE or private label or otherwise, with the “REELEX” trademark…”

Besides being contractually obligated via the license agreement to print the mark on all REELEX packages, this logo is an important indicator that your company produces quality product and that the package will perform the way installers expect it to.

Cable Safety

The majority of counterfeit, knockoff and non-compliant twisted-pair cabling on the market today is sold in boxes that look just like REELEX packaging. To help educate the industry about these cables, REELEX has joined with the CCCA (Communications Cable and Connectivity Association), whose mission includes informing end-users about counterfeit and non-compliant cable.

These poor-quality cables use imitation REELEX coiling methods that knot, tangle and cause cable damage, while the cables themselves can cause significant issues ranging from signal loss to fire hazards.

Because REELEX packaging is the standard package for LAN and other low-voltage cable, the REELEX logo is one trademark that spans across manufacturers and regions across the globe.

This means that the REELEX logo is a clear signal to end-users, government officials and customs personnel that the cable inside the package is likely to be manufactured in compliance with laws such as the National Electric Code (NEC). CCCA has determined that the REELEX trademark is one standard which the industry as a whole can use to identify genuine cable to government, industry and safety organizations.

End-User Identification

The REELEX logo identifies to the installer that the package contains a genuine REELEX coil which will perform as expected and is far less likely to tangle or snag as products packaged using counterfeit REELEX methods. Furthermore, the REELEX logo is an indication to end-users that they are purchasing a genuine, quality product in a genuine, quality package from an honorable and honest company.

Import and Customs Risk

The REELEX logo has been recorded with Customs and Border Protection. Because the REELEX logo must be placed on the cable package regardless of manufacturer, ports of entry have been notified to specifically look for this logo and scrutinize closely any package that does not have this mark printed on the box. This means that boxes of cable that do not have the REELEX logo or are improperly printing the REELEX logo not under license have a greater chance of being identified as unsafe cable and not be allowed through US customs or otherwise be scrutinized by authorities. Manufacturers trying to import illegal or non-compliant cable with the REELEX logo visible may face legal action.

Patent Identification

The REELEX logo indicates that the coil is packaged using a patented and licensed method utilizing the intellectual knowledge of REELEX Packaging Solutions, Inc.

This logo protects the licensee’s investment in REELEX by indicating the utilization of the brand and thereby the legal protection, marketing advantages and authenticity of quality the REELEX brand logo represents.

Download for Printing

You can download the logo by filling out the use form here.

Labels for Purchase

In situations where private label cartons are supplied to the manufacturer without the REELEX trademark visible, REELEX offers holographic labels that can be placed anywhere on the package.

These can be ordered by contacting sales@reelex.com.

Part Number: LABEL-REELEXTM-HOLO-75X75
Price: US$0.10/ea.

Generally, no. The D-1500 is build for online applications and thus is recommended for most scenarios. This is because the D-750 must come to a complete stop for about 25 or 30 seconds at the end of each coil while the operator removes the full coil and starts the new coil.

However, if your extrusion line operates at a relatively slow speed (below 120 meters-per-minute or 400 feet-per-minute), the D-750 may be used. If so desired, an accumulator with enough capacity to accumulate the cable coming from the extruder during the coil removal process would be required.

Yes! All REELEX equipment accept signals from most brands of printers. Upon length reset, the printer will send a signal to the REELEX machine to stop (in the case of the D-750) or cut and transfer (in the case of the D-1500 and D-2050). More information can be found in your machine manual.

If you are currently having cable manufactured and packaged by a REELEX Licensee and your packages are not printed or labeled with the REELEX trademark logo, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to supply you with the logo.

Per the license agreement, all packages made using REELEX technology should have the logo affixed somewhere on the package.

OEM and Private Label Trademark Usage

For OEMs/Private Labels who are using genuine REELEX technology via using a supplier licensee, REELEX offers a trademark license agreement. This agreement allows well-known OEMs and Private Labels to become genuine REELEX trademark licensees in exchange for committing to using only genuine REELEX licensees as suppliers. Besides ensuring that the packaging is genuine REELEX and is not under threat of patent infringement, this agreement allows REELEX to confirm that an OEM or Private Label is lawfully using REELEX patents while helping promote their brand.

Yes! All REELEX machines are capable of adjusting coil parameters. REELEX II simply requires a larger hole size input. To make a REELEX II coil, increase the hole size setting until the REELEX II tube fits easily.

For more information on coil and package types, please see here.

Unfortunately, no. G3 upgrades are no longer available for G1 machines.

The safety standards at the time “G1” equipment was built are incompatible with our current policies. G1 equipment cannot easily be modified or upgraded to meet REELEX’s safety standards without expense nearing that of a new machine, and thus we have made the decision to no longer offer the G3 upgrade.

G3 upgrades for D-1000s and D-1500s are not supported at this time.

Yes. We encourage all licensees to sign the new license agreement at their convenience. For 2022, all new REELEX equipment will require a new agreement to be signed prior to shipment.

Because over the past 40+ years there is enough variation between agreements that we must bring all licensees under the same terms. Additionally, the recent volatility in raw materials pricing means now is the ideal time to move usage fee terms to benefit all licensees. The new agreement also includes updated, modern language and additional benefits such as an indemnification clause and clarifications with regards to trademark usage.

Unfortunately, no. The “Most Favored Licensee” clause of the agreement means that we cannot offer special or different pricing from what other licensees pay. As a result, all licensees must abide by the same terms in the new agreement.

Year 1

For the first year of the REELEX license, the Licensee pays a usage fee prepayment equal to the Fixed Fee per machine. 

Ongoing Fees

Licensees with 1-2 machines pay the Fixed Fee per machine on an annual basis, unless production is less than the quantity of packages represented by the Fixed Fee. Upon request, but only once per year, manufacturers with lower production volumes can instead request to pay based on the Variable Fee model.

Licensees with 3 or more machines produce a report each calendar quarter of packages produced. This quantity is multiplied by the Variable Usage Fee and is paid within 30 days of the end of the calendar quarter.

All equipment deliveries beginning in 2022 will require the new agreement to be signed prior to delivery.

For customers with three or more REELEX machines, most license agreements had terms that linked usage fees to a percentage of net sales dollars of product sold in REELEX. In discussions with customers, we found a variety of issues with reporting, determining accurate sales numbers, and complaints regarding the impact of raw material pricing and how it affects usage fees.

As a result, we are moving forward with a new fee structure based on the amount of product using REELEX, not what it is sold for.

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