the first and second press nips while being guided away from the web to remain out of contact therewith as the web travels from the first to the second press nip at the third press nip 15 the lower roll 17 is a roll having a recessed surface being situated within the loop of the common fabric means 3 this roll 17 being a grooved roll or a venta nip roll the upper press roll 16 at the last press nip is a smooth surfaced roll and the web p travels at this last press nip 15 between felt 3 and the roll 16 adhering to the latter subsequent to the third press nip between the first press nip 6 and the last press nip 15 there may be additional intermediate press nips 7 the roll 16 is cleaned by the doctor 18 and subsequent to the roll 16 the web p is guided as illustrated to the drying section while the endless common fabric means 3 is returned to the first press nip with the embodiment of fig2 the travel of the web p to the press section is similar to the arrangement of fig1 thus in fig2 also the web p adheres to the common endless fabric means 3 which conveys the web to the successive press nips of the press section the first press nip 6 of fig2 has a suction press nip where water travels from the web to the suction roll 4 in the embodiment of fig2 the additional fabric means instead of including a single endless felt or wire.