Roll Mandrels for Manual Material Handling

Versatile Roll Handling
Our roll mandrels can grip and lift up to 2000 lbs by gripping the inside of the roll core which allows operators to tilt the core 90 degrees pneumatically. You can mount the roll grippers shown here on a manipulator setup, or hang them from a robot or crane.
At Industrial Actuators Corp., we stock roll mandrels that pneumatically expand inside 3-inch and 6-inch cores for rolls of:
| Plastic | Fabric |
| Vinyl | Rubber |
| Aluminum | Paper |
What truly sets our machinery apart is the commitment to next-generation durability and customization. Our current line of manipulators has gained widespread recognition for their ability to move rolls on and off horizontal and vertical shafts effectively.
Gripping: The inside of a roll is gripped with three jaws arranged at 120 degrees, each equipped with serrated teeth. The teeth make very slight marks in the interior of fiberboard cores. An external pneumatic cylinder grips the roll pneumatically. Holding the roll vertically, the grip is strong enough to prevent release by at least a 2:1 safety factor.
Roll Orientation: Vertical pick up (“eye-to-the-sky”) or horizontal pick up are both possible. It is possible to use horizontal mandrels to pull or set down rolls.
Shaft Length: The length of the roll handler’s shaft can be varied by pulling a pin and swapping shafts.
Safety Precautions
Weight and Size: The maximum weight for a roll with a 3″ inside diameter and a length of 60” is limited by the strength of the shaft that could be inserted inside. Depending on the roll inside diameter, we can handle roll weights up to 2000 lbs.
Roll Handling Guidelines
Crane Handling: When a roll mandrel is hung from a custom crane and a 90 degree tilt is required, a load leveler can be added depending on the size and weight of the roll.
The load leveler is a device that actively moves the crane hook point under pneumatic power to level out the roll after tilting.
Manipulator Handling: Regardless of the size or weight of the roll, or where its center of gravity is located, lifting rolls with a manipulator (as shown in these photos and videos) improves ergonomics for the operator when transferring material to a perfect horizontal or vertical position. Manipulators can also reach underneath other rolls in an array in an unwind machine. Additionally, they float the load, which eliminates the need for up/ down controls.
Robot Handling: Roll mandrels have to be custom-fitted to the tooling plate of a robot. Sensors indicate whether the mandrel is gripped or released.
Extremely Heavy Rolls: Manipulators lift heavier rolls (that do not require rotation) by inserting shafts in either end.
Mobile Roll Handling: It is necessary to use a long-travel crane when loading many machines separated by a considerable distance. A mobile manipulator is an option for the roll handler. Forklifts move manipulators that have a heavy base. A forklift, for example, could move the manipulators with a heavy base. In the case of light rolls, pallet carts or a “walkie” is an option for mounting the manipulator.
Loading Guidelines
Loading Mandrels: It is important to take into account the tight clearance between the inside diameter of a roll and the diameter of the unwind mandrel. For rolls weighing less than 300 lbs, the manipulator can float loads without up/ down controls. In this situation, the operator moves the roll up and down by pulling on the handlebars, and can ‘feel’ the roll slide over the mandrel.
Binding is almost impossible because the roll can never be forced upward or downward against the mandrel, except to the extent that the operator can with his own hands.
Let’s build something great together.
Company Preview
Our grippers have been used in a wide variety of industries for more than 30 years.
Get In Touch: USA
26437 Southpoint Rd, Perrysburg, Ohio, 43551
Email: sales@givensliftingsystems.com
Phone: 419-724-9001
Get In Touch: Canada
327 Sovereign Rd, London, Ontario, N6M 1A6
Email: sales@giveng.com
Phone: 519-453-9008




