Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing the start of a material web of a stock roll (5) in a roll exchanger comprises the steps of bringing a surplus roll (20) removed from a stock-roll holder (3), which surplus roll (20) is incorporated in a frame of web-takeup (11) and to which surplus roll (20) an adhesive is applied, into contact with the material web of the stock roll (5), taking up the material web from the stock roll (5) on the surplus roll (20), winding up a length of the material web from the stock roll (5) on the surplus roll (20), winding up a length of the material web of the stock roll (5) on the surplus roll (20) and severing the material web between the portion of the material web wound on the surplus roll (20) ant the stock roll (5). The roll exchanger is provided with means including, in particular, a web-takeup device (11), in which a surplus roll (20) is or can be mounted so that it can rotate, with which the method can be carried out.