Stationary sliding bar

In a machine for one of making and off-line coating of a fiber material web, the fiber material web traveling through said machine, the improvement comprising:

• a stationary bar for guiding the traveling web, said bar being configured to bow in a predetermined direction, said predetermined direction having at least a component substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the traveling web, said bar including a convex, rounded surface disposed adjacent to the traveling web, said rounded surface being at least one of substantially smooth and substantially continuous in a direction of movement of the traveling web, said rounded surface extending substantially across a width of the traveling web;
• and
• at least one powered web guide roll which carries and drives the traveling web at an operating speed which is sufficient to define an aerodynamic flotation wedge between said rounded surface and the traveling web, said rounded surface and said operating speed coacting to define a means for separating and preventing contact between the traveling web and said bar.