A method for preparing an edge of a reel of web material, comprising: - placing a reel onto a support shaft rotatable around a first axis, - approaching a gripping device movable along at least two axes (X, Y) orthogonal to said first axis and rotatable around said first axis, onto any portion of an outer turn of web material of said reel, - pressing a friction surface of said gripping device onto said portion of the web material of the outer turn and generating a relative movement between the reel and said friction surface so that said portion of web material forms a loop, - inserting at least one plate of said gripping device inside said loop in a direction parallel to said first axis, - bringing at least one suction cup of said gripping device into contact with an external surface of said loop, - activating said at least one suction cup and clamping a portion of the loop of web material between said at least one suction cup and said at least one plate, - making a first transversal cut of the outer turn of web material at said loop by means of a cutting device of said gripping device, bringing said gripping device close to a mouth of a stationary suction device, gripping an end of said web material by means of said mouth of said suction device, deactivating said at least one suction cup and releasing said gripped portion of web material, - unwinding a section of web material with a length equal to or greater than the length of the circumference of the reel, - sucking by said suction device said section of web material unwound from the reel, - reactivating said suction cup and clamping a second portion of web material between the suction cup and said plate, - making a second transversal cut of the section of web material downstream of said plate with reference to the unwinding direction of the reel by means of said cutting device, and - evacuating as scrap into said suction device the portion of unwound web material downstream of the cut. - placing a reel onto a support shaft rotatable around a first axis, - approaching a gripping device movable along at least two axes (X, Y) orthogonal to said first axis and rotatable around said first axis, onto any portion of an outer turn of web material of said reel, - pressing a friction surface of said gripping device onto said portion of the web material of the outer turn and generating a relative movement between the reel and said friction surface so that said portion of web material forms a loop, - inserting at least one plate of said gripping device inside said loop in a direction parallel to said first axis, - bringing at least one suction cup of said gripping device into contact with an external surface of said loop, - activating said at least one suction cup and clamping a portion of the loop of web material between said at least one suction cup and said at least one plate, - making a first transversal cut of the outer turn of web material at said loop by means of a cutting device of said gripping device, bringing said gripping device close to a mouth of a stationary suction device, gripping an end of said web material by means of said mouth of said suction device, deactivating said at least one suction cup and releasing said gripped portion of web material, - unwinding a section of web material with a length equal to or greater than the length of the circumference of the reel, - sucking by said suction device said section of web material unwound from the reel, - reactivating said suction cup and clamping a second portion of web material between the suction cup and said plate, - making a second transversal cut of the section of web material downstream of said plate with reference to the unwinding direction of the reel by means of said cutting device, and - evacuating as scrap into said suction device the portion of unwound web material downstream of the cut.