Press of a paper machine for thin papers

A section of a paper machine including a first machine portion comprising at least a portion of a press section of the papermaking machine, a second machine portion comprising at least a portion of a drying section directly following the press section, and a web transfer arrangement defining a web transfer region located between the first portion and the second portion of the papermaking machine, in which:

• the press section comprises:
• a rotatable, smooth surfaced, first tubular roll having a roll shell which is rigid and having a smooth peripheral outer surface which contacts a paper web directly, a felted second press roll, the first roll and the second roll being positioned to define a first press nip between them through which the paper web passes, the first roll constituting the last and final roll of the press section and the first press nip constituting the last and final press nip of the press section;
• the press section being such that the paper web continues to traverse, past the first press nip, an unfelted portion of the first roll to the web transfer region;
• the second portion comprises:
• a leading, heated unfelted drying cylinder located adjacent the unfelted portion of the first tubular roll of the press section;
• and
• the web transfer arrangement between the first roll of the first portion and the drying cylinder of the second machine portion being such that the paper web is transferred directly from the first roll of the press section to the drying cylinder of the second machine portion without open draw, avoiding a free web path.