PAPER MACHINE CLOTHING AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME

The present invention concerns a paper machine clothing comprising a substrate (20) with an upper side (22), a lower side, two lateral edges and an usable region between the two lateral edges, wherein the usable region comprises a plurality of through-channels extending through the substrate (20) and connecting the upper side (22) with the lower side, wherein the through-channels are non-cylindrical with a cross sectional area becoming smaller when going in a thickness direction of the substrate (20) from the upper side (22) to a middle region of the substrate between the upper side and the lower side, wherein an upper rim of at least one of the plurality of through-channels directly contacts an upper rim of at least one other neighboring through-channel of the plurality of through-channels, wherein the upper rims of both neighboring through-channels have at least one common local maximum (42), wherein a sectional plane being parallel to the thickness direction of the substrate (20), comprising the at least one common local maximum (42) and comprising or intersecting the central axis of at least one of the two neighboring through-channels defines an intersecting line with a sidewall of the at least one of the two neighboring through-channels, and wherein the intersecting line comprises a first portion (44) that is convexly shaped, a second portion (46) that is concavely shaped and a third portion (48) that is again convexly shaped when going in the thickness direction of the substrate (20) from the at least one common local maximum (42) toward the middle region of the substrate (20). Furthermore, the present invention refers to a method of producing such a paper machine clothing.