Abstract: When strips are cut from a coil of sheet material, they may differ in length because of differences in thickness across the sheet. These differences in length are accommodated by the slit strips being wound by separate rotational forces. Recoiler mandrels are divided into sections mounted on the same shaft and each having a hydraulic unit. Each hydraulic unit includes a pressure side and a suction side, the pressure sides of all of the hydraulic units being connected, and the suction sides of all of the units being connected, thereby forming a closed hydraulic system wherein increased pressure in one hydraulic unit due to increased tension on the respective mandrel section is balanced by the remaining hydraulic units and respective mandrel sections.