An apparatus for producing an absorbent article includes a holding tool, a femaletool disposed along a machine axis, and a male tool disposed along the machineaxis. The holding tool has an aperture aligned along the machine axis and meansfor holding a flexible sheet across the aperture. The female tool has at leastone folding element extending in a direction radially away from the machine axis,and the male tool has means for holding a fluid storage element and at least onepleating blade extending in a direction radially away from the machine axis.At least two of the holding tool, female tool, and male tool are capable of relativemotion along the machine axis. Further the at least one pleating blade and of themale tool and the at least one folding element of the female tool are aligned topermit manipulation of the flexible sheet about the fluid storage element.
