Machine and method for the production of hygienic absorbent items

A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, comprising:

• a first transfer unit at least partly defining a first feed path for a succession of first discrete elements movable along the first feed path;
• a second transfer unit at least partly defining a second feed path for a succession of second discrete elements movable along the second feed path;
• a first applicator station located downstream of the first transfer unit along the first feed path for applying each first discrete element of the succession of first discrete elements on a support web having a longitudinal axis and movable in a feed direction AAAA) along a third feed path;
• a second applicator station located downstream of the first applicator station in the feed direction of the support web and downstream of the second transfer unit along the second feed path for applying each second discrete element of the succession of second discrete elements on the support web, the machine being characterized in that it comprises an adjustment device for adjusting a length of the third feed path between the first applicator station and the second applicator station, so that each second discrete element is applied on the support web at a predefined position relative to a respective first discrete element, the adjustment device at least partly defining the third feed path, the length of the third feed path between the first applicator station and the second applicator station determining a length of the support web between the first applicator station and the second applicator station.