Abstract: A machine for creping sheet material such as paper, textiles, metal foils, or plastic, comprises a driving drum, and a pressing plate for pressing a length of sheet material against the drum to drive the material lengthwise in the machine direction, and a retarding member arranged to contact the lengthwise-driven sheet material to cause it to crepe. The pressing plate has a plurality of pressure application points or areas distributed across the width of the sheet material on the drum, the pressure application points or areas being associated with pneumatic cylinders for applying different pressures to different parts of the material across its width according to a given pressure profile. The pneumatic cylinders can be arranged in groups to provide an adjustable pressure profile across the material wherein the pressures applied at the opposite edges of the material and at intermediate parts of the material are adjustable independently of one another.