Abstract: Dewatering apparatus for papermaking machines, such as suction boxes, are provided with spaced cover elements of a composite structure. The cover elements include ceramic cover strips which engage the porous conveyor belt that conveys the paper web and are separated by drainage slots. The ceramic cover strips are bonded to support members of fiber-reinforced plastic. The cover elements are mounted on metal cross braces by mounting projections on the support members which slide into mounting slots of the same shape on the cross braces for attachment thereto without threaded fasteners or welding. The mounting slots and mounting projections may be of an interlocking shape, such as a dovetail shape or a T-shape, which prevents vertical movement of the cover elements toward or away from the conveyor belt while allowing horizontal sliding movement for insertion and removal of the cover elements into the mounting slots of the cross braces.