A laminating machine and process for applying an optically clear adhesive film to a glass substrate includes a porous belt assembly with a plurality of vacuum pumps. The vacuum pumps define different, separately adjustable vacuum zones on the surface of the porous belt. The porous belt is driven linearly so that an optically clear adhesive does not move relative to the porous belt, but does move relative to the table, allowing the adhesive to be controlled to a compressive, neutral, or tensile state while being nip-rolled to the substrate. Since there is no motion of the film relative to the belt, scratching, stretch elongation, dimensional errors, and other slip induced damage is eliminated.