A winding apparatus for winding a product strip onto a reel, the winding apparatus comprising: a feeder module for supplying the product strip to the reel; a first winding module part that is configured to engage the reel, the first winding module part being further configured to move along a first alignment path to align the reel in relation to the feeder module at an operative position for receiving the product strip; wherein the first winding module part is configured to align the reel in a horizontal position that is normal to a vertical axis of the winding apparatus and the reel is rotatable at the operative position about a longitudinal axis passing through the reel; wherein the feeder module is arranged to convey the product strip for winding onto the reel, the product strip being within a vertical plane normal to the ground; characterised in that the winding apparatus further comprises: a second winding module part disposed adjacent to the first winding module part, said second winding module part being configured for rotating the reel about the longitudinal axis to facilitate packaging of the reel; and a transfer module disposed for movement between the first winding module part and the second winding module part; wherein the transfer module is configured to engage the reel with the reel in its horizontal position, and to move along a transfer path to convey the reel from the first winding module part to the second winding module part; and wherein the second winding module part is configured to move along a second alignment path to engage the reel from the transfer module and to position the reel in relation to one or more end-packaging modules. a feeder module for supplying the product strip to the reel; a first winding module part that is configured to engage the reel, the first winding module part being further configured to move along a first alignment path to align the reel in relation to the feeder module at an operative position for receiving the product strip; wherein the first winding module part is configured to align the reel in a horizontal position that is normal to a vertical axis of the winding apparatus and the reel is rotatable at the operative position about a longitudinal axis passing through the reel; wherein the feeder module is arranged to convey the product strip for winding onto the reel, the product strip being within a vertical plane normal to the ground; characterised in that the winding apparatus further comprises: a second winding module part disposed adjacent to the first winding module part, said second winding module part being configured for rotating the reel about the longitudinal axis to facilitate packaging of the reel; and a transfer module disposed for movement between the first winding module part and the second winding module part; wherein the transfer module is configured to engage the reel with the reel in its horizontal position, and to move along a transfer path to convey the reel from the first winding module part to the second winding module part; and wherein the second winding module part is configured to move along a second alignment path to engage the reel from the transfer module and to position the reel in relation to one or more end-packaging modules. a second winding module part disposed adjacent to the first winding module part, said second winding module part being configured for rotating the reel about the longitudinal axis to facilitate packaging of the reel; and a transfer module disposed for movement between the first winding module part and the second winding module part; wherein the transfer module is configured to engage the reel with the reel in its horizontal position, and to move along a transfer path to convey the reel from the first winding module part to the second winding module part; and wherein the second winding module part is configured to move along a second alignment path to engage the reel from the transfer module and to position the reel in relation to one or more end-packaging modules.