Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Fourdrinier machine
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Fourdrinier machine
Quick Facts
Key People:
Bryan Donkin
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Fourdrinier machine
Fourdrinier machine

Fourdrinier machine

Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Fourdrinier machine, device for producing paper, paperboard, and other fibreboards, consisting of a moving endless belt of wire or plastic screen that receives a mixture of pulp and water and allows excess water to drain off, forming a continuous sheet for further drying by suction, pressure, and heat. Calenders (rollers or plates) smooth the paper or board and impart gloss or other desired finish to the surface. The first machine to produce a continuous web (roll), the Fourdrinier machine was invented in France in 1799 by Louis Robert and was subsequently improved in England, where it was patented by Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.