A continuously operating press is described in which endless bands are moved with constant speed around an upper and a lower press platten and a lubricant film is formed between the confronting press platten surfaces and the respectively associated endless band. The fluid which serves for the build up of the lubricant film is kept in this arrangement under a predeterminable hydrodynamic pressure in at least one press zone at the input side of the press, while a calibration zone is provided at the output side of the press in which the lubricant stands substantially only under static pressure.