Coating device having infrared and suspension drying sections

A device for coating a paper web comprising:

• (a) two rolls disposed parallel to one another and forming a roll gap for the passage of a paper web therethrough;
• (b) at least one applicator for applying a coating onto a surface of at least one of the rolls, for subsequent transfer of the coating onto one side of the paper web in the roll gap;
• (c) guide elements disposed downstream of the roll gap with respect to a direction of travel of the paper web through the device, said guide elements guiding the paper web and comprising at least one air guide beam for creating an air cushion between the paper web and a surface of the at least one air guide beam facing the paper web, said at least one air guide beam being disposed in such a manner as to deflect the paper web at least once downstream of the roll gap, and said at least one air guide beam being disposed directly downstream of the roll gap at a distance therefrom of about 0.3 times to about 1 time a diameter of at least one of the rolls;
• and (d) a drying portion disposed directly downstream of the at least one air guide beam for drying both sides of the paper web, said drying portion having a plurality of infrared drying sections and a plurality of suspension drying sections, said infrared drying sections and suspension drying sections being alternately disposed with respect to the direction of movement of the web through the device.