Objective Fuzzy PID self-adaptive control system is applied to solve the tension control instability problem during paper winding in the variable frequency speed regulation system. Methods The system adopted the Siemens digital ac speed control method. Using a tension control system composed of speed and pressure detecting elements, the authors applied PID and fuzzy algorithm in system design, processed the output filter of the system controller, and added the changes in the rate of production line as a feedforward quantity to the controller output, to improve the tracking ability of the controller in the rate changes of the production line. Conclusion The computer simulation results showed that this self-adaptive PID controll method had good performance, which provides an effective control strategy for the nonlinear and time-lag system tension control in industrial processes.