Abstract: The invention relates to a tangential-belt drive for a plurality of work units of the same kind, arranged at least in one row next to each other, of a machine for the production of twisted or twined yarns. The work units are divided into sections with at least approximately the same number of work units, each driven with an endless tangential belt. At least one electromotor is assigned to each section for driving the thereto pertaining tangential belt and guiding means for the tangential belt.In order to reduce the energy losses of such a tangential-belt drive, the width and thickness of the tangential belt used is considerably reduced, particularly to a width between 7 and 14 mm and a thickness between 2 and 2.7 mm. Size reduction becomes possible because the number of working units in each section is selected by considering the working capacity required by this number of work units and the acceptable belt stretch factor.