Papermaking machine employing an impermeable transfer belt, and associated methods

A papermaking machine for making a paper web from an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers, comprising:

• a forming section structured and arranged to form a wet paper web;
• a press section arranged to receive the wet paper web from the forming section, the press section comprising a press having two cooperating press members forming a press nip therebetween, a press felt arranged in a loop such that the press felt passes through the press nip, and an impermeable transfer belt arranged in a loop such that the transfer belt passes through the press nip and the wet paper web passes through the press nip enclosed between the press felt and the transfer belt;
• a permeable structuring fabric arranged in a loop within which a suction transfer device is disposed, the suction transfer device having a suction zone in which suction is exerted through the structuring fabric, the suction zone including a transfer point spaced a distance D from the press nip in a machine direction along which the transfer belt runs, the transfer belt being arranged to bring the paper web into contact with the structuring fabric in the suction zone for a length L in the machine direction, such that suction is exerted on the paper web to transfer the paper web from the transfer belt onto the structuring fabric at the transfer point;
• the transfer belt having a surface in contact with the wet paper web characterized by a non-uniform distribution of microscopic-scale depressions;
• and
• a drying cylinder onto which the structuring fabric transfers the paper web for final drying thereof.