Abstract: An apparatus and method for pressing a rotatable ironing roll against an outermost wrap of strip material being coiled with substantially constant force and at a minimum constant distance from the tangent point of entry of the strip onto the coil, comprising an ironing roll support linearly and pivotally movable with respect to the coil, a sensor to determine a position of the ironing roll and to determine a corresponding desired roll pressure, and a cam connected to the ironing roll support and adapted to cause the ironing roll to follow a curved locus of the tangent point as the coil diameter increases.