occur therefore the pressure which is applied at the first shoe 16 is predetermined at a level so that maximum water removal will be attained without the hydraulic crushing of the web the pressure which is applied to the next shoe 17 can be higher since some of the water will have been removed at the first shoe similarly the pressure of the third shoe 18 can be still higher this procedure is commonly followed in regular press nips where each subsequent nip applies a higher pressure however an advantage is obtained in the present arrangement in that a broader pressing area is employed so that the water has more time to travel from the web into the felt with a conventional press nip the width of the nip is determined by the diameter of the press rolls and this cannot be changed by increasing the length of the shoe 19 the length of time that the web is subjected to the pressing pressure can be increased the present arrangement also provides an advantage over conventional press nips in that the pressure is applied hydraulically that is by virtue of the layer of lubricating fluid which is built up between the shoe 16 and the belt 10 this lubricating liquid has a pressure profile which builds up from the leading edge of the shoe and then drops off at the trailing edge of the shoe but pressure extends along the full length of the shoe this will result in improved application of pressure and improved water removal from the web as compared with the pressure profile which occurs to a web passing through the usual two roll press couple also the need for web handling between subsequent press nips.