Abstract: A bending device for producing a winding mat for a rotor or stator of an electric machine, having a coil magazine with wire coils fitted in each instance with conductors; a bending unit with rod-shaped wire guides in which a conductor is guided in each instance, at least two bending heads for forming winding heads at the conductors, and at least two bending jaws for stamping layer steps in the conductors; and a transport system with spindles and a conveying unit for transporting the conductors that are bent to form a winding mat, the bending device being operable in a cycle. The coil magazine is a paternoster magazine and the bending unit includes a paternoster guide in which the wire guides are guided, and a concurrent paternoster movement of the wire coils and wire guides in the paternoster magazine and paternoster guide is adjustable.