An unwinding station continuously unwinds a material web, notably a paper or cardboard web, for a machine, specifically a coater, for conversion of the material web. The station includes a primary unwinding system, a secondary unwinding system and a splicing system to splice together material webs unwinding from two reels, with each reel being carried by one of the unwinding systems. The reel carried by the primary unwinding system, which is disposed after the splicing of the material webs to one another, is transferable by use of a carrying system to the secondary unwinding system. The unwinding station is distinguished specifically by an auxiliary drive that is movable jointly with the reel and which can be driven with the aid of the reel.