the following specification describes a contact electroplating process and apparatus in which a web carrying the contacts is attached to a plastic carrier strip formed of modules in end to end relationship and then wound on a plating reel . projections on the strip register with pilot holes in the web to attach the strip to the web . teeth on the strip enable the strip to be properly indexed for attachment to the web and the projections and a rib on one surface of the strip are nestingly received between the teeth on adjacent turns of the strip and web as they are wound in a stack on the plating reel . the plating reel has a bushing for establishing an electrical connection to the contacts which is easily sealed by a simple nut mounting the reel on an arm or beam for immersion in a plating bath . after plating , the stacked contacts and strip are easily separated and wound on separate reels permitting reuse of the strip , and plating reel , while the contacts are in condition for subsequent operations .