the press device for a paper web , such as a calender , contains a flexible moving element forming an endless structure , said element forming the shell of a roll , the press device including further a counter roll . inside the moving element there is a shoe element that is arranged to support the shell against the counter roll to form a nip . the width and / or the surface contour of the supporting surface of the shoe element guiding the shell of the roll in the nip contact varies in the machine direction and the shoe element is positionable in the machine direction to adjust the nip width and / or length .