Abstract: A method of stacking wave winding wires (wires) for forming a winding mat for a stator coil winding including providing a drop magazine containing a plurality of similar wires in a receiving space, wherein a receiving space contour is configured to the received wires, such that the wires are positioned at a plurality of guide devices at different receiving space boundary locations and guided through the receiving space without changing their geometry, positioning a workpiece carrier having a retaining structure for a winding mat formed of multiple stacked wires in a first transfer position below the magazine and depositing a wire from the magazine at a first position on the workpiece carrier, positioning the workpiece carrier in a second transfer position offset from the first transfer position below the magazine, and depositing a further wire from the magazine at a position offset from the first position on the workpiece carrier.