Abstract: A method and apparatus which reduces the amount of energy consumed in drying a paper web are disclosed. The reduction is accomplished by trimming the paper web while it is being conveyed on a moving fabric to divide the formed web into a trimmed web and couch trimmings respectively. Thereafter, suction is applied in the area where the pick-up of the trimmed web from the fabric is accomplished so as to deflect the portion of the felt on which the couch trimmings lie. As a result, only the trimmed web is conveyed to the drying section so that no energy is expended in drying the couch trimmings. The apparatus and method is particularly applicable to the manufacture of paper having a low grammage (basis weight) since contact between the couch trimmings and the pick-up felt is avoided.