a cable reel or cable reel assembly for use in transporting and storing cable of length , diameter and weight up to a predetermined reel capacity . the cable reel , or cable reel assembly when assembled , includes a generally cylindrical cable - receiving drum , which in the case of the cable reel assembly is assembled from a plurality of drum components , and a pair of opposed flanges that are fixed to the ends of the drum and retain wound cable in place on the drum . the drum is made of a material , and has dimensions , that enable it to resist bending under the load of the cable wound on the drum and to resist cable loading and unloading stresses . the opposed flanges resist the lateral load applied to the cable reel by the wound cable . the flanges are made from a selected blended rubber - plastics composition and have dimensions selected to resist bending due to the lateral load of the cable wound on the drum , and due to the stress applied to the flanges by the drum bearing the cable .