An apparatus for manufacturing absorbent cores for absorbent sanitary articles, comprising: - a rotating forming wheel (12) including a plurality of forming elements (16) defining a peripheral surface of the forming wheel (12), - a forming chamber (46) containing absorbent material (64) facing a portion of the peripheral surface of the forming wheel (12), - a first roller (52) for feeding a first nonwoven web (54) onto the peripheral surface of the forming wheel (12) upstream of the forming chamber (46), - a second roller (56) for feeding a second nonwoven web (58) onto the peripheral surface of the forming wheel (12) downstream of the forming chamber (46), wherein each of said forming elements (16) comprises a suction surface (20) connected to a suction source and at least one protruding rib (32) having a blowing surface (34) selectively connected to a stationary blowing device (40), wherein said at least one blowing surface (34) and said suction surface (20) are spaced apart from each other in a radial direction.
