Method and apparatus of splicing a paper web, in which a paper web from a new reel is spliced to a paper web from an emptying reel and a position of glue or two sided tape in the surface of the new paper reel is marked. The method includes receiving a command for splicing, determining the splicing time instant, accelerating a rotation of the new paper reel, detecting the glue or tape, controlling, based on the detected glue or tape, the rotation of the new paper reel in such a manner that the rotation speed of the new paper reel and the position of the glue or tape are as required at the splicing time instant, and splicing the paper web at the splicing time instant.

The apparatus for automatically joining reels of web material includes a joining assembly adapted to take the trailing edge of a first expiring reel of web material and to apply it on the leading edge of a second reel of web material. Said leading edge is held close to said second reel of web material by gripping means rotated, at the same angular speed, by the same second reel. Said leading edge bears, on the side facing outwardly, a label of adhesive material.