Apparatus and method for splicing substantially flat continuous material

Apparatus for splicing substantially flat continuous material, the apparatus comprising:

• a transport unit for transporting a first substantially flat continuous material and a second substantially flat continuous material to a splicing location, wherein the transport unit is adapted to transport the first substantially flat continuous material and the second substantially flat continuous material parallel to each other forming an overlap portion of the first substantially flat continuous material and the second substantially flat continuous material in the splicing location;
• a pressure unit arranged in the splicing location adapted to apply a mechanical impact of a duration between 100 milliseconds and 500 milliseconds and with a force in a range between 100 Newtons and 600 Newtons onto at least a part of the overlap portion of the first substantially flat continuous material and the second substantially flat continuous material, thereby at least partially merging the first substantially flat continuous material with the second substantially flat continuous material, wherein the transport unit comprises a belt conveyor, wherein the belt conveyor is guided to and through the pressure unit and transports at least the first substantially flat continuous material into, through, and past the pressure unit and further in a processing line, wherein the belt conveyor does not contact the part the pressure unit is adapted to apply a mechanical impact to, and wherein in the splicing location the belt conveyor only contacts a portion of the overlap portion such that the belt conveyor does not directly receive the mechanical impact.