A printing mandrel (1) for receiving a substantially cylindrical hollow body comprises a coupling part (2) with which the printing mandrel is insertable in a printing machine. Attached to the coupling part (2) is a receiving part (3) comprising a substantially cylindrical surface (4), onto which receiving part the body is able to be pushed and from which receiving part the body is able to be removed. Made in the end region (5) of the mandrel (1) remote from the coupling part (2) are openings disposed in the surface (4) in a way distributed over the periphery, which openings are connected to an air supply disposed in the mandrel (1). By means of the compressed air exiting the openings (7) a body to be pushed onto the printing mandrel is expanded, which facilitates an easy pushing on; with a cutting off of the compressed air supply an optimal seating between the body and the printing mandrel (1) results, which facilitates an optimal processing of the body.