Folding machines and methods for manufacturing pant products

A pant folding machine configured to fold an intermediate pant product having a first face and a second face and formed by a continuous web of first waistband material, a continuous web of second waistband material, and a plurality of cores, each respective extending between the continuous web of first waistband material and the continuous web of second waistband material, the pant folding machine comprising:

• a frame;
• an inlet roller mounted on the frame and configured to receive the intermediate pant product in an unfolded state;
• a folding apparatus arranged downstream of the inlet roller, mounted on the frame, and configured to receive the intermediate pant product from the inlet roller in the unfolded state, the folding apparatus comprising
• a center board,
• a first side board on a first side of the center board, and
• a second side board on a second side of the center board,
• wherein the center board, the first side board, and the second side board are arranged such that the center board engages the first face of the intermediate pant product and each of the first and second side boards engages the second face of the intermediate pant product and, as the intermediate pant product is drawn along the center board and the first and second side boards, the intermediate pant product is folded by each of the center board and the first and second side boards to transition the intermediate pant product from the unfolded state to a folded state;
• and
• an outlet roller mounted on the frame and configured to receive the intermediate pant product in the folded state from the folding apparatus.