Pressure treatment apparatus for continuous web treatment includes a drum and a belt surrounding the drum almost completely with both drum and belt being movable with the web disposed in between. A pair of essentially semi-cylindrical sleeves are disposed about the belt as a supporting surface with a friction-reducing means, such as interconnected rollers, between the sleeves and belt to transfer force. The sleeve ends are spaced apart at two sides to permit passage of the web and belt while at the same time being urged together of both sides to impart a tensile force in the sleeve. This tensile force serves to exert a uniform pressure on the moving web substantially over the entire surface of the drum with the forces contained in a closed system and not loading the drum bearings.