Abstract: A coil winding system is provided for making a secondary winding for an automotive ignition coil. The system includes a roller configured to apply a holding force to wire being dispensed from a wire nozzle onto a bobbin. The nozzle and roller are moved by a drive mechanism under control of a controller from one axial end to the other axial end of the bobbin for winding the bobbin in a progressive winding fashion. The roller allows an increase in the winding angle of the layers, which reduces the voltage difference between adjacent layers, thereby reducing incidence of dielectric break down in that region.