Apparatuses and methods for making absorbent articles

A method for assembling portions of absorbent articles, the method comprising the steps of:

• advancing a first substrate in a machine direction at a speed, the first substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface;
• pre-heating the first substrate;
• arranging the second surface of the first substrate and a die surface in a facing relationship, wherein the die surface comprises an outer circumferential surface of a roll, and wherein the die surface comprises cavities;
• rotating the roll;
• contacting the die surface with the first substrate;
• applying energy to a portion of the first substrate while advancing at the speed such that a softened material of the first substrate moves into the cavities of the die surface to form a zone of protrusions, wherein the zone of protrusions extends in the machine direction for a length, Lz, wherein each protrusion protrudes from the second surface of the first substrate to a distal end;
• and
• wherein the first substrate has a pitch length, PL, extending along the machine direction, wherein the length, Lz, of the zone of protrusions extends in the machine direction for less than the pitch length, PL;
• wherein a position of the die surface is adjustable in the cross direction.