Abstract: A bridge mandrel for use on a printing press, an example of which includes making an inner tube laid up with a compressible foam layer between wound glass fiber layers, an outer tube wound with carbon fiber, steel end caps, and a pneumatic system for delivering air to the surface of the completed mandrel; assembling these parts into a hollow bridge mandrel assembly; injecting liquid expanding foam into it as an intermediate component; and finishing the surface of the outer tube. The outer tube is made from tube stock laid up over a peel ply wrapped on a forming mandrel, and cut to length. Another example of the invention includes a bridge sleeve comprising a composite layup of glass, compressible foam, glass, and carbon fiber, the ends of which are sealed from chemical exposure by end caps.