To provide an apparatus for needling fiber web, capable of needling swells extending in the revolving direction of a brush belt without requiring to be effected by the groove structure of the mounting face of the brush belt.

The apparatus for needling fiber web comprises at least one needleboard (15) which is drivable in a reciprocating manner in the needle-penetration direction and a stitch base opposite of the needleboard (15) and comprising an endlessly revolving brush belt (5) forming a conveyor for the fiber web. The needleboard (15) has, at least in one section, rows of needles which have an even distance of the rows and extend in the revolving direction (11) of the brush belt (5). The brush belt (5) and the needleboard (11) can be moved in a crossing manner by means of a traversing drive (20) to an extent corresponding to the distance of the needle rows relative to each other or an integral multiple thereof.