A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles such as nappies, absorbent pads and the like comprises a production line (4), along which a plurality of operating stations (5) are disposed, and a rejection station (8) for rejecting defective absorbent articles (2a) and located downstream of the operating stations (5) in the feed direction of the absorbent articles (2) along the production line (4)； upstream of the rejection station (8) with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent articles (2) along the production line (4), the machine (1) comprises an electronic data reading device (9) configured to read an electronic identification element (11) associated with a respective absorbent article (2)； the electronic identification element (11) comprises at least one information item (19) relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article (2)； the machine (1) comprises a programmable electronic controller (12) configured to receive from the electronic data reading device (9) the information item (19) relating to a type of defect and associated with a respective electronic identification element (11) and also being configured to associate that information item (19) with a respective block (14) of a shift register (13).L'invention concerne une machine de fabrication d'articles sanitaires absorbants tels que des couches, des tampons absorbants et similaires, comprenant une ligne de production (4), le long de laquelle une pluralité de stations de travail (5) sont disposées, et une station de rejet (8) pour rejeter des articles absorbants défectueux (2a) située en aval des stations de travail (5) dans le sens d'alimentation des articles absorbants (2) le long de la ligne de production (4) ； en amont de la station de rejet (8) par rapport au sens d'alimentation des articles absorbants (2) le long de la ligne de production (4), la machine (1) comprend un dispositif de lecture de données électroniques (9) configuré pour lire un élément d'identification électronique (
