A web transport assembly (80; 180; 280; 380; 480; 580) for transporting a web along a processing unit for processing the web, the web transport assembly (80; 180; 280; 380; 480; 580) comprising: - a transport device arranged for moving the web in a transport direction through a transport path along the processing unit, the transport device being arranged downstream of the processing unit relative to the transport direction; and - a friction-based tensioning device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) arranged upstream of the processing unit relative to the transport direction; wherein the friction-based tensioning device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) comprises a guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) for guiding the web towards the processing unit and a plurality of suction holes distributed over the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) for providing a suction force to a contact side of the web, the plurality of suction holes being arranged in fluid communication to a suction source, which generates the suction force, wherein the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) is configured to exert a friction force on the web in response to the suction force provided to the contact side of the web; and wherein the friction-based tensioning device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) is configured for controlling a tension of the web between the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) and the transport device; - a control unit operatively coupled to the suction source to control the friction force provided to the contact side of the web; characterized in that the web transport assembly (80; 180; 280; 380; 480; 580) further comprises: - a support plate for supporting the web at the processing unit, the support plate being configured for attracting the web to the support plate, wherein the control unit is configured to control the suction force at the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531), such that a friction force provided to the web by the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) exceeds a friction force provided to the web by the support plate. - a transport device arranged for moving the web in a transport direction through a transport path along the processing unit, the transport device being arranged downstream of the processing unit relative to the transport direction; and - a friction-based tensioning device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) arranged upstream of the processing unit relative to the transport direction; wherein the friction-based tensioning device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) comprises a guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) for guiding the web towards the processing unit and a plurality of suction holes distributed over the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) for providing a suction force to a contact side of the web, the plurality of suction holes being arranged in fluid communication to a suction source, which generates the suction force, wherein the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) is configured to exert a friction force on the web in response to the suction force provided to the contact side of the web; and wherein the friction-based tensioning device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) is configured for controlling a tension of the web between the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) and the transport device; - a control unit operatively coupled to the suction source to control the friction force provided to the contact side of the web; - a support plate for supporting the web at the processing unit, the support plate being configured for attracting the web to the support plate, wherein the control unit is configured to control the suction force at the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531), such that a friction force provided to the web by the guiding surface (31; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) exceeds a friction force provided to the web by the support plate.