A folding roll apparatus (100; 200) comprising: a non-rotatable inner tube (104; 204) extending along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable outer tube (102; 202) disposed about the inner tube (104; 204) for rotation about the longitudinal axis (108; 208) with the inner and outer tubes (102; 202) defining an elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes including a longitudinally elongated vacuum transfer zone (112; 212) at a predetermined relative angular positioning of the outer tube (102; 202) with respect to the inner tube (104; 204); and a vacuum valving arrangement (106; 206) disposed in the elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes (102; 202); the inner tube defining an elongated vacuum plenum (116; 216) therewithin extending along the longitudinal axis beneath the elongated vacuum transfer zone (112; 212), with the inner tube (104; 204) having at least one vacuum port (118; 218) disposed therein providing fluid communication between the vacuum transfer zone (112; 212) and the vacuum plenum (116; 216); the outer tube (102; 202) including a plurality of vacuum ports (120; 220) distributed along the longitudinal axis on an outer surface of the outer tube (102; 202) and connected in fluid communication with the annular space between the inner (104; 204) and outer tubes (102; 202); the vacuum valving arrangement (106; 206) being configured for providing angularly controlled transfer of vacuum from the vacuum plenum (116; 216) inside of the inner tube (104; 204) to the vacuum ports (120; 220) distributed longitudinally along the outer surface (122; 222) of the outer tube (102; 202), and being characterized by also being configured for providing distributed bearing support of one of the outer tube and the inner tube (104; 204) on the other of the outer tube (102; 202) and the inner tube at a plurality of locations along the longitudinally elongated vacuum transfer zone (112; 212). a non-rotatable inner tube (104; 204) extending along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable outer tube (102; 202) disposed about the inner tube (104; 204) for rotation about the longitudinal axis (108; 208) with the inner and outer tubes (102; 202) defining an elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes including a longitudinally elongated vacuum transfer zone (112; 212) at a predetermined relative angular positioning of the outer tube (102; 202) with respect to the inner tube (104; 204); and a vacuum valving arrangement (106; 206) disposed in the elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes (102; 202); the inner tube defining an elongated vacuum plenum (116; 216) therewithin extending along the longitudinal axis beneath the elongated vacuum transfer zone (112; 212), with the inner tube (104; 204) having at least one vacuum port (118; 218) disposed therein providing fluid communication between the vacuum transfer zone (112; 212) and the vacuum plenum (116; 216); the outer tube (102; 202) including a plurality of vacuum ports (120; 220) distributed along the longitudinal axis on an outer surface of the outer tube (102; 202) and connected in fluid communication with the annular space between the inner (104; 204) and outer tubes (102; 202); the vacuum valving arrangement (106; 206) being configured for providing angularly controlled transfer of vacuum from the vacuum plenum (116; 216) inside of the inner tube (104; 204) to the vacuum ports (120; 220) distributed longitudinally along the outer surface (122; 222) of the outer tube (102; 202), and being characterized by also being configured for providing distributed bearing support of one of the outer tube and the inner tube (104; 204) on the other of the outer tube (102; 202) and the inner tube at a plurality of locations along the longitudinally elongated vacuum transfer zone (112; 212).