A device for grabbing and rotating a roll core , which comprises: a) a hollow shaft , a1) extending along a rotation axis (X), b) a support for said hollow shaft , b1) said support comprising one or more roller bearings , c) an expanding mandrel , c1) extending along said rotation axis (X), c2) having a first end and a second end , c3) jointly rotating with said hollow shaft , c4) capable to translate relative to said hollow shaft , d) a head , d1) extending along said axis (X), d2) adjacent to one end of said expanding mandrel , e) a rotary electric motor , f) a regulator for regulating the speed and direction of rotation of said rotary electric motor , g) a control apparatus for manually controlling said speed regulator of said rotary electric motor , h) a support member for said rotary electric motor , i) a mechanical transmission , for converting the rotation of said rotary electric motor into an axial movement of said expanding mandrel , said mechanical transmission comprising a sliding tube , 11) extending through said hollow shaft , i2) able to axially slide relative to said hollow shaft , i3) jointly translating but not jointly rotating with said mandrel , characterized in that said head is jointly translating but not jointly rotating with said expanding mandrel , and in that said control apparatus is mounted to said head . a) a hollow shaft , a1) extending along a rotation axis (X), a1) extending along a rotation axis (X), b) a support for said hollow shaft , b1) said support comprising one or more roller bearings , b1) said support comprising one or more roller bearings , c) an expanding mandrel , c1) extending along said rotation axis (X), c2) having a first end and a second end , c3) jointly rotating with said hollow shaft , c4) capable to translate relative to said hollow shaft , c1) extending along said rotation axis (X), c2) having a first end and a second end , c3) jointly rotating with said hollow shaft , c4) capable to translate relative to said hollow shaft , d) a head , d1) extending along said axis (X), d2) adjacent to one end of said expanding mandrel , d1) extending along said axis (X), d2) adjacent to one end of said expanding mandrel , e) a rotary electric motor , f) a regulator for regulating the speed and direction of rotation of said rotary electric motor , g) a control apparatus for manually controlling said speed regulator of said rotary electric motor , h) a support member for said rotary electric motor , i) a mechanical transmission , for converting the rotation of said rotary electric motor into an axial movement of said expanding mandrel , said mechanical transmission comprising a sliding tube , 11) extending through said hollow shaft , i2) able to axially slide relative to said hollow shaft , i3) jointly translating but not jointly rotating with said mandrel , characterized in that said head is jointly translating but not jointly rotating with said expanding mandrel , and in that said control apparatus is mounted to said head . 11) extending through said hollow shaft , i2) able to axially slide relative to said hollow shaft , i3) jointly translating but not jointly rotating with said mandrel , said head is jointly translating but not jointly rotating with said expanding mandrel , and in that said control apparatus is mounted to said head . <EOS>