A device for drawing a web of material into a machine, such as a printing press includes a draw-in mechanism that can be advanced along a draw-in path, and to which the web of material can be coupled. The draw-in mechanism can be driven by an electric motor that can be regulated or controlled in response to measurement data which is determined during the draw-in process. The motor can be regulated or controlled in synchronism with another unit of the machine, which other unit is mechanically driven independently of the electric motor.