stripping apparatus to remove scrap around die cut blanks in a web comprises a roll pair through which the web is passed , one roll carrying spikes to impale the scrap pieces and the other roll carrying abutments to contact the scrap pieces on the opposite side to the spikes . according to the invention the abutments are retractable , so that effectively the scrap piece is pinched between the spike and abutment shortly before the nip of the rolls . fig . 1 illustrates the preferred arrangement .