A device for removing, from a reel of strip material, an adhesive tape secured to a peripheral surface portion of the reel via thermoplastic adhesive material; which device comprises a pair of rollers supporting the reel; one of the rollers being a drive roller for rotating the reel about its axis; at least one heating element located close to the peripheral surface of the reel and designed to substantially contact the tape; and the other roller having vacuum openings for removing the tape from the peripheral surface of the reel subsequent to the adhesive material being plasticized by the heating element.