Robot for handling rolls

A robot for handling rolls of web material, comprising:

• a suction head;
• an articulated arm moving according to a plurality of numerically controlled axes and supporting said suction head, said suction head having a roll gripping surface, said roll gripping surface comprising a substantially flat and approximately semi-circular shape;
• and
• a mechanical gripper for gripping a winding core of the rolls, said mechanical gripper being retractable in a position behind a suction surface of said head, said mechanical gripper including at least a pair of jaws and a block slidingly arranged in a housing placed behind a suction surface of said suction head, said block being movable in said housing to take up an extracted position and a retracted position, said block including guides along which said jaws are caused to slide, to grip and release the winding core.