Apparatus for forming an extended nip

Apparatus for forming an extended nip between a heated mating roll mid a shoe roll for treating a product web the shoe roll having a stationary support and a flexible belt which can rotate about the support, wherein in the area of the extended nip, a shoe which is guided on the support (a) supports the flexible belt of the shoe roll, (b) forms a press section, and (c) has an effective shoe width, wherein the belt has end sections which are fixed to end walls that are rotatably mounted on the support, and wherein the mating roll has a radially protruding support ring at each of the end sections axially adjacent to but spaced a distance from a mating face located opposite the effective shoe width of the shoe, which mating ring forms an opposing bearing for the direct support of an outer belt section of the flexible bolt in a transition area between the effective shoe width and the fixing to the end wall on the mating roll and consists of a thermally insulating material in order to provide heat resistive thermal protection and guiding for the outer belt section.