Conveyor and method for conveying strands of aerosol-generating material, and apparatus and method for producing a rod of aerosol-generating material

Apparatus for producing a rod of aerosol-generating material, the apparatus comprising a slitting unit arranged to slit a web of aerosol-generating material into a plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material, and a conveyor arranged to convey strands of aerosol-generating material received from the slitting unit,

• the conveyor comprising:
• a conveying surface on which the strands of aerosol-generating material are conveyed, the conveying surface comprising a plurality of openings;
• and,
• an air flow generator for generating a flow of air through the conveying surface, said air flow generator being configured so that said flow of air flows through said plurality of openings in a direction towards said strands of aerosol-generating material being conveyed on said conveying surface to provide an air cushion between the conveying surface and the strands of aerosol-generating material.