A stranding unit for a stranding machine has a stranding axis and a cage in which a number of baskets are arranged for receiving a number of reels having a strand material wound thereon. The stranding unit is characterized in that a stand is arranged which has a frame which extends around the cage in a circumferential direction around the stranding axis. The cage is mounted on the frame by a number of frame bearing elements and is rotatable around the stranding axis. As a result of the circumferential bearing, centrifugal forces are particularly efficiently distributed and absorbed by the frame during operation. In an advantageous further development, a plurality of basket are also mounted in a similar manner within the frame. The stranding unit as a whole is furthermore constructed such that it can be operated at a particularly high rotational speed.

A method for manufacturing a straight steel monofilament for the reinforcement of belt ply of a pneumatic tyre, where the arc-height of the straight steel monofilament is less than 30 mm. The steel monofilament is plastically deformed by a twisting along the axis of the steel monofilament on a double-twist apparatus. The plastic twist deformation eliminates the surface stress difference on the steel monofilament and provides a straight steel monofilament for belt ply reinforcement. This provides a simple solution with existing apparatus to manufacture straight steel monofilament suitable for tire reinforcement with high speed for mass production.

An apparatus for producing an assembly of filamentary elements that are wound together in a helix includes a twisting device, a preforming device, and an assembling device. The twisting device is structured to twist at least first and second filamentary elements individually, such that each filamentary element is twisted separately from another filamentary element, to produce at least first and second twisted filamentary elements. The preforming device, which is arranged downstream of the twisting device, is structured to preform each of the twisted filamentary elements individually into separate preformed helixes, to produce at least first and second preformed helixes. The assembling device, which is arranged downstream of the preforming device, is structured to assemble the preformed helixes into an assembly.