Abstract: A winch comprising a substantially cylindrical housing, rotatably disposed around a central shaft, which housing comprises, at the top thereof, a flange and has a central portion of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the flange and the diameter of the bottom housing portion, the central portion of the housing having a smooth surface and, in cross section, not being completely circular. To this end, the central portion of the housing is provided with a number of concave faces, for instance six, extending in vertical direction over the central portion, with the possible provision of flat faces between these faces. In the winch according to the invention, it is no longer necessary to roughen the surface of the central portion, which considerably reduces the wear in the sheet to be wound onto the winch.