Centrefeed Paper Towels: Complete Guide for Australian Facilities

Table of Contents

• What Are Centrefeed Paper Towels?
• Why Choose Centrefeed Over Folded Towels?
• Understanding Centrefeed Specifications
• Tork Centrefeed Range Comparison
• Centrefeed Dispensers: The M2 System
• Centrefeed vs Other Formats
• Cost Analysis: Centrefeed ROI
• Best Applications
• Frequently Asked Questions

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Centrefeed paper towels are continuous-roll towels that dispense from the centre of the roll through a dedicated wall-mounted or portable dispenser, delivering one sheet at a time with minimal waste. They are the most cost-effective hand-drying and wiping solution for high-traffic Australian commercial facilities, offering up to 40% lower cost-per-use than folded towels with fewer refill interruptions.

What Are Centrefeed Paper Towels?

Centrefeed paper towels, also known as centre-pull or perforated roll towels, are continuous paper rolls wound around a hollow core. Unlike conventional toilet paper or kitchen rolls that unwind from the outside, centrefeed towels dispense from the centre of the roll. The leading edge is pulled up through a dispenser nozzle, and each sheet tears cleanly at the perforation.

This design delivers two key advantages: one-at-a-time dispensing (users touch only the sheet they take, reducing cross-contamination) and no stub roll waste (the entire roll is usable, nothing gets thrown away when it is nearly empty). For Australian facility managers overseeing washrooms, kitchens, workshops, and healthcare environments, centrefeed towels are the workhorse hand-drying and wiping solution.

Why Choose Centrefeed Over Folded Towels?

If you are currently using folded or interleaved paper towels, switching to centrefeed can deliver measurable improvements across four dimensions:

1. Lower Cost Per Use

Centrefeed rolls pack more paper into less space. A single Tork M-Roll M2 (350 metres) contains approximately 1,750 sheets. An equivalent folded towel dispenser holds 200 to 400 sheets and needs refilling 4 to 8 times more often. The per-sheet cost of centrefeed is typically 30 to 40 percent lower than premium folded towels.

2. Reduced Refill Labour

Each centrefeed roll lasts significantly longer than a folded towel pack. A 300-metre roll in a busy washroom might last an entire shift or more, compared to folded towels that need replacing multiple times per day. For cleaning teams, this means fewer interruptions and lower labour costs.

3. Better Hygiene

Centrefeed dispensers present one sheet at a time. Users touch only the sheet they take, not the next sheet or the dispenser mechanism. This single-sheet presentation reduces cross-contamination risk compared to folded towel stacks where multiple sheets may be touched before one is taken. The Safe Work Australia hygiene guidelines recommend touch-free or single-sheet dispensing in all commercial washrooms.

4. Less Waste

Folded towel dispensers often dispense 2 to 3 sheets when a user pulls. Centrefeed controlled perforation means one pull equals one sheet, every time. Facilities typically see a 20 to 30 percent reduction in paper consumption after switching from folded to centrefeed.

Understanding Centrefeed Specifications

Not all centrefeed towels are equal. Here are the key specs to evaluate when buying:

Ply Count

1-ply towels are thinner and more economical, ideal for hand-drying in low-to-medium traffic washrooms and general light wiping. The Tork Basic 1-Ply (300m) is a budget-friendly option that still delivers reliable performance.

2-ply towels offer greater absorbency, strength, and a more premium feel. They are the right choice for high-traffic washrooms, food preparation areas, and anywhere users expect a thicker towel. For busy washrooms, the Tork M-Roll M2 is the longest roll in our range at 350m.

Roll Length

Centrefeed rolls range from 280m to 350m. Longer rolls mean fewer changeovers, but they also require a dispenser with enough internal capacity. The Tork M2 system accommodates all standard centrefeed roll sizes.

• 280m — Tork Universal M2 (Blue): all-purpose, colour-coded for food areas
• 300m — Tork Basic 1-Ply: economy option
• 350m — Tork M-Roll M2: maximum capacity, premium 2-ply

Sheet Size and Perforation

Standard centrefeed sheet length is approximately 20cm per sheet. Perforation quality varies by grade. Premium rolls like the M-Roll have clean, reliable tears, while economy grades may occasionally tear unevenly. For hand-drying only, sheet size is less critical. For wiping and light cleaning, a wider sheet with stronger perforation is preferable.

Tork Centrefeed Range Comparison

Product	Ply	Length	Colour	Best For
Tork M-Roll M2	2	350m	White	Premium washrooms, high traffic
Tork Universal M2	2	280m	Blue	Food prep areas, colour-coded zones
Tork Basic	1	300m	White	Budget hand-drying, low traffic

All Tork centrefeed products are sold in cartons of 6 rolls. Bulk pricing available. See individual product pages or visit our bulk cleaning supplies guide for volume discount information.

Centrefeed Dispensers: The M2 System

Tork M2 dispenser system is the industry standard for centrefeed towel dispensing in Australia. The dispensers are wall-mountable, lockable, and designed to fit all standard centrefeed roll sizes. They feature a dispensing nozzle that guides the centre-pull sheet and tears it cleanly at the perforation.

We stock two M2 dispenser variants:

• Tork M2 Dispenser — White: The classic choice for washrooms and healthcare environments. High-contrast white finish signals cleanliness and suits most interiors.
• Tork M2 Dispenser — Black: Ideal for workshops, automotive, and industrial settings where a darker finish hides marks and suits the environment.

Both models accept all Tork centrefeed rolls listed above. Installation is straightforward with included wall-mounting hardware. For dispenser selection across your entire facility, see our paper towel dispenser guide.

Centrefeed vs Other Formats

Feature	Centrefeed	Folded/Interleaved	Roll (Jumbo)
Cost per use	Lowest	Medium	Low
Refill frequency	Low	High	Very low
Hygiene (one-sheet)	Excellent	Poor (multi-sheet grab)	Good
Waste	Minimal	High (stub rolls, over-dispensing)	Moderate
Dispenser cost	Moderate	Low	High
Best application	Washrooms, kitchens, workshops	Low-traffic washrooms	High-traffic washrooms

Cost Analysis: Centrefeed ROI

Let us run the numbers for a mid-sized Australian facility with 50 staff and 20 daily visitors, using paper towels for hand-drying only:

Metric	Folded Towels	Centrefeed (Tork M-Roll)
Sheets per day (est.)	210	140 (less over-dispensing)
Sheets per refill	300	1,750
Refills per week	5	0.6
Labour per refill	3 min	3 min
Weekly labour	15 min	2 min
Paper cost per week	$18.50	$12.80
Annual saving	—	~$400 plus

Figures are estimates based on Australian commercial pricing as of August 2026. Labour cost not included in the annual saving. Real savings are higher when factoring in cleaning staff time. Actual results vary by usage patterns and product selection.

Best Applications for Centrefeed Towels

Commercial Washrooms

The primary use case. Centrefeed one-sheet dispensing keeps washrooms tidier, reduces paper waste on the floor, and ensures users always have a towel available. For high-traffic washrooms, the 2-ply Tork M-Roll is the clear choice.

Commercial Kitchens and Food Prep

Blue centrefeed towels (like the Tork Universal M2 Blue) support HACCP colour-coding requirements. Use blue towels exclusively in food handling areas to prevent cross-contamination with cleaning cloths from other zones.

Healthcare and Aged Care

Centrefeed dispensing minimises touch points, which is critical in infection-control environments. The single-sheet presentation aligns with Australian Department of Health infection prevention guidelines for hand hygiene in clinical settings.

Workshops and Industrial

The Tork Basic 1-Ply and Tork Universal M2 serve double duty for hand-drying plus light wiping of tools, benches, and spills. Pair with a black M2 dispenser for an industrial look that does not show marks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any centrefeed roll in a Tork M2 dispenser?

Yes. All Tork centrefeed rolls are designed for the M2 dispenser system. Third-party centrefeed rolls with standard dimensions (approximately 19 to 20cm diameter, centre-pull configuration) will also fit, though perforation and quality may vary.

How many sheets are in a centrefeed roll?

A standard 300-metre centrefeed roll yields approximately 1,500 sheets at roughly 20cm per sheet. A 350-metre roll like the Tork M-Roll yields approximately 1,750 sheets. Actual sheet count varies slightly by perforation spacing.

Are centrefeed towels more hygienic than air dryers?

Yes. Multiple independent studies, including research published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, have found that paper towels remove bacteria through friction during drying, while air dryers can aerosolise and spread microorganisms. Single-sheet centrefeed dispensing adds the hygiene benefit of touch-free presentation.

Do centrefeed towels work with existing dispensers?

Centrefeed rolls require a dedicated centrefeed dispenser. They will not fit in folded-towel or jumbo-roll dispensers. The Tork M2 dispenser is the standard Australian option and works with all roll sizes in our range. If you are switching from folded towels, you will need to install M2 dispensers alongside the roll purchase.

What is the shelf life of centrefeed paper towels?

Paper towels have an essentially indefinite shelf life when stored in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight. Unlike some cleaning chemicals, there are no active ingredients that degrade over time. Buy in bulk with confidence.

Shop Centrefeed Paper Towels at Matthews Cleaning Supplies

We stock the full Tork centrefeed range with bulk carton pricing and fast dispatch across Australia. Whether you are fitting out a single washroom or standardising a multi-site facility, our team can help you select the right combination of rolls and dispensers.

Why buy from us:

• ✓ Full Tork M2 range in stock, rolls and dispensers
• ✓ Bulk carton pricing with further volume discounts available
• ✓ Fast shipping Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse
• ✓ Expert advice, we supply commercial cleaning products to 89 plus facilities across NSW
• ✓ Combine with our interleaved hand towels guide for facility-wide specification

Browse All Centrefeed Towels and Dispensers →