A new blank-holder system with degressive gas springs has been developed and evaluated for axi-symmetric deep drawing. In contrast to most published works in this field, in which hydraulic systems are utilized, the new system is integrated with the tool body instead of with the press, the advantage with this approach being that the system is independent of press facilities. The new system consists of inter-connected active and passive gas springs, moving parallel during forming. With the new system, degressive, constant and progressive blank-holder force (BHF) trajectories can be obtained. The BHF-trajectories were pre-determined with a specially developed software. Two materials, an ordinary deep drawing steel and a high-strength rephosphorized steel, have been analysed. The thickness was 0.7 mm and a water emulsion was used as lubricant. The blank holder force, punch force, total force and the separation of the blank holder (wrinkle detection) were recorded continuously during the pressing operation. With a degressive BHF-trajectory the process window between fracture and wrinkling in axi-symmetric deep drawing is larger compared to those obtained with constant and progressive trajectories, and also, the LDR is higher.