Abstract: The turn-up of a continuous web from a parent reel to a new spool is made using an apparatus for sensing the presence of the newly cut web about the new spool and moving the new spool about a pope reel drum once the web has begun to wind on the new spool. A signal processing system is provided to monitor the speed of the web, defects in the web, the position of primary and secondary arms, and whether a turn-up has failed. The system provides output signals to control the timing of the turn-up and the motion of the primary and secondary arms. The apparatus may have several sensors for measuring the presence of the web, the speed and elapsed number of turns of the spool, and may have different types of sensors for use with different types of spool materials.