Abstract: Apparatus for stripping the insulation from an end portion of an insulated electrical wire (W), withdrawing an electrical terminal (ET) from a carrier tape (T) therefor and crimping the terminal (ET) to the stripped end portion of the wire (W), comprises a rotary conveyor (18) for advancing the tape (T) step by step to align it with a fixed wire gripper (10), a prefeed mechanism (20) for partially detaching the terminal (ET) from the tape (T), an insulation severing and stripping unit (12), and a pair of terminal gripping and terminal crimping heads (14 and 16). The insulation severing and wire stripping unit (12) is retracted to strip an end portion of the insulated wire (W) upon the end of the wire (W) interrupting a laser beam (L).