A system (100) for handling sheets of flexible material comprises: a plurality of releasable connectors (20) supported on a main carrier (110). The releasable connectors (20) are individually addressable so that when actuated a connector lifts or releases a sheet of flexible material. One or more end adjustment means is provided to vary at least one of: the orientation and/or the location of the connectors (20), with respect to a surface defined in three dimensions, such that in use the sheet of flexible material is placed in a precise user selected position on the three dimensional surface without the material creasing or wrinkling. An advantage of the present invention is that previously actuators were able to orient grippers to be normal to the surface of a cylinder; whereas the provision of parallel, flexible strips enables active surfaces to be positioned normal to the surface of complex surface, such as that defined by a cone.