A method for making an absorbent structure having an absorbent layer and strips, virtually free of absorbent material (100), extending longitudinally therein, said absorbent layer being supported on a support sheet (200), said method comprising the steps of: i) providing absorbent material (100) to a feeder and adjacent and very close to it: ii) providing an endless moving surface (30) that moves in a machine direction (MD) having an outer envelope with one or more shaping receptacles (33), which has an average width and direction and transverse dimension, and has an average length and longitudinal dimension, said average length being more than said average width； said receptacle (s) comprising a multitude of rods (36) that extend substantially in a longitudinal direction, separated from each other in a transverse direction, each rod (36) having a maximum transverse dimension (width) of at least 0.3 mm and each of said rods (36) having an upper part and an opposite lower part, preferably said lower part being adjacent to an inner grid (37), and the minimum transverse distance between adjacent rods (36) being at least 1 mm, and each of said rods (36) having an average height dimension (perpendicular to the transverse and longitudinal dimensions) of at least 1 mm； said endless surface (30) being in motion connected to one or more vacuum systems (38) that apply a vacuum suction to said receptacles (33) or parts thereof, iii) providing a sheet conveying means (210) ( 200) support； iv) transporting said support sheet (200) to said outer envelope, on said upper parts of said rods (36)； v) optionally, pulling said support sheet (200) partially between adjacent rods (36) by said vacuum suction to form undulations (201) on said support sheet (200) between said rods (36) and form ridges ( 202) in said upper part of said rods (36)； vi) depositing, with said feeder, said absorbent material (100) on said support sheet (200) present in said forming receptacles (33)； vii) pulling
