The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling absorbent articles, and more particularly, diapers, each including a chassis connected with front and back elastic belts. Opposing end regions of the chassis are connected with regions of the elastic belts where the elasticity of the elastic belts has been removed or deactivated. As discussed in more detail below, an elastic laminate is formed by intermittently bonding elastic strands between a first continuous substrate layer and a second continuous substrate layer. The elastic strands are then intermittently deactivated by severing the strands in the non-bonded regions to form deactivated regions of the elastic laminate. A plurality of chassis may then be bonded with the elastic laminate, wherein the first or second end regions of each chassis may be bonded with deactivated regions of the continuous elastic laminate.
