Method and device for producing a multi-ply web of flexible material, such as paper and nonwoven, and multi-ply material and product produced by the method

Method for producing a multi-ply web of flexible material having at least one first ply and one second ply by gluing the plies, which comprises:

• bringing a first pattern roll, having a three dimensional pattern of alternating raised and recessed portions, in contact with a glue application device;
• applying glue to a first web shaped flexible material in a first press nip in a pattern corresponding to the configuration of the tops of the raised portions, the pattern configuration of the first pattern roll being chosen so that glue is applied to said first ply in glue sites covering an area corresponding to between 0.03 and 9% of the total area of the first web shaped flexible material and sparsely distributed over substantially the entire area of the first web shaped flexible material;
• bringing a second web shaped flexible material in contact with the glue applied side of said first web shaped flexible material in a second press nip between a second pattern roll having a three dimensional pattern of alternating raised and recessed portions corresponding to the pattern of said first pattern roll and an impression roll;
• wherein the web tension of said first and second plies are substantially equal as they are fed into the second press nip the first and second pattern rolls being in registry with each other, so that the first and second first web shaped flexible materials are combined and glued together in a pattern corresponding to the configuration of the tops of the raised portions of said first pattern roll.