Frequently Asked Questions

An air shaft is an expanding shaft that grips the core of a roll from the inside using compressed air. It is used on winding and unwinding stations in packaging, printing, paper and plastic film lines to speed up roll changes and keep the core centred on the shaft axis.

One or more bladders run along the inside of the shaft body. When air is fed in through the valve at the shaft end, the bladder inflates and pushes the lugs or leaves outwards against the core. When the air is released, they retract and the core slides off easily.

The difference lies in the body material. Aluminium is light and suits lines where the shaft is handled by the operator and rolls are changed often; steel offers a stiffer body for heavy rolls and higher loads; carbon fibre combines low weight with high stiffness and is usually considered for longer shafts. The right choice depends on roll weight, shaft length and line speed.

On a lug-type shaft, short lugs spaced along the body grip the core at specific points. On a leaf-type shaft, strip-shaped leaves running along the body give a larger contact area and spread the load more evenly across the core. Which one suits you depends on the core type and the application, and we can review this together.

Yes. As well as standard body diameters, we manufacture special diameters and different lengths to order. Standard and special sizes for each product are listed in the technical table on the relevant product page.

Yes. Air shaft journals are CNC-machined to the customer's technical drawing. If you do not have a drawing, you can share the dimensions of your existing shaft and we will agree how to proceed at the quotation stage.

A safety chuck connects the ends of the air shaft to the machine, holds the shaft securely in place during operation and allows it to be loaded and removed quickly. Our safety chucks are designed to lock themselves on the first turn, even if the operator forgets to lock them.

In general, the difference is where the chuck is fixed to the machine frame: inside-frame chucks sit on the inner side of the frame, while frame-mounted chucks are fitted on the frame itself. The right type depends on the machine's construction and the space available on the frame. If you are unsure, send us a photo or drawing of that part of the machine and we can advise.

Yes. Spare parts are available for the safety chuck systems we manufacture, and we provide spare parts and service support for our products. Tell us which part you need and which product it is for when you request a quotation.

The essentials are the product type, quantity, core inner diameter (in inches), overall shaft length and journal dimensions. A technical drawing, roll weight, machine type and operating conditions, if available, help us prepare a more accurate quotation.

Yes. The air shafts and adapters we manufacture go through air-tightness, strength and balance tests before they are shipped.

Warranty cover and duration vary by product. Please check the warranty information in the technical table on the product page and confirm the exact terms in writing at the quotation stage.

Air shafts need little maintenance, but regular visual checks help them last longer. A good starting point is to make sure the lugs or leaves are clean and move freely, that the valve does not leak and that the journals show no wear. If you notice an air leak or weaker grip, contact us about replacing parts such as the bladder or valve.

A friction shaft lets several cores on the same shaft wind independently, with controlled slip between them. It is mainly used on the rewind sections of slitting machines to keep winding tension even when the individual rolls build up at different diameters.