Activated composite web for absorptive devices

A method of manufacturing an activated composite web, comprising:

• laminating a three-dimensionally formed film layer comprising a plurality of apertured protuberances having a mesh count of at least 35 to a nonwoven web to form a composite web;
• and
• passing the composite web through intermeshing gears to form an activated composite web, the intermeshing gears being constructed and arranged to form a plurality of first lanes substantially unaffected by activation aligned in a first direction and having a first width in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and a plurality of second lanes aligned in a first direction and having a second width less than the first width in the second direction in the activated composite web, the first width being greater than the second width, wherein a first portion of the plurality of apertured protuberances forms a plurality of first apertured protuberances having a plurality of corresponding first apertures with first cross-sectional areas, the first apertured protuberances are located in the first lanes, and a second portion of the plurality of apertured protuberances forms a plurality of second apertured protuberances having a plurality of corresponding second apertures with second cross-sectional areas, each of the second cross-sectional areas being larger than each of the first cross-sectional areas, the second apertured protuberances are located in the second lanes, and
• wherein each of the first apertures has a first major axis and a first minor axis with the first major axis being substantially aligned in the first direction, each of the second apertures has a second major axis and a second minor axis with the second major axis substantially aligned in the second direction.