Abstract: An electromechanical apparatus for handling and tilting hollow cylindrical bodies (R) such as reels of sheet metal, comprising a rotational clamp (31) having two jaws (32 and 33) which hold, by a nut (36) travelling along a rotating screw (35) driven by a motor (34), the external and internal walls respectively of the cylindrical body (R). The rotating clamp is connected to a crane hooking device by a support (20, 20') moving along a guide (30) provided on the rotating clamp body (31). The hold on the internal wall of the body (R) takes place only along a portion of it, and a device (13, 38b, 37, 38; 40) is provided to compensate the reduction in the holding force produced during the rotation of the hollow cylindrical body (R), namely, the compensating means (13, 38b, 37, 38; 40) causes an additional movement of the rotating screw (35) in a direction to move the jaws closer together.