A system of rolls for use in a calender, printer or rolling mill has a pair of rolls at least one of which has a hollow cylindrical shell with an elastically deformable line. The shell surrounds a stationary carrier and confines a row of electromagnetic or hydraulic force applying devices which can be adjusted individually to thereby regulate the pressure between the two rolls and hence the temperature at the exterior of the liner. Such temperature is monitored by one or more sensors, and the signals from such sensors are processed by a computer which regulates an adjusting unit for the force applying devices so that the pattern of temperatures along the external surface of the liner matches an optimum pattern.