A method of preparing an additive assembly for insertion into tobacco industry product filter tow, comprising: providing a web comprising an array of discrete portions of additive disposed in or on the web, the array comprising columns of at least two discrete portions of additive across a width of the web; and forming a chain of discrete portions of additive in the web. The chain comprises: connecting portions that connect adjacent discrete portions of additive in a column of the array; and connecting portions that are configured to be nonlinear to connect discrete portions of additive in respective adjacent columns of the array.

A method of preparing an additive assembly for insertion into tobacco industry product filter tow, comprising: providing a web comprising an array of discrete portions of additive disposed in or on the web, the array comprising columns of at least two discrete portions of additive across a width of the web; and forming a chain of discrete portions of additive in the web. The chain comprises: connecting portions that connect adjacent discrete portions of additive in a column of the array; and connecting portions that are configured to be nonlinear to connect discrete portions of additive in respective adjacent columns of the array.

The invention relates to a segment for a smoking article which comprises a wrapping material and a filter material, wherein the wrapping material wraps the filter material and at least 10% and at most 100% of the mass of the filter material is formed by a calendered fibre web, wherein at least 50% and at most 100% of the mass of the calendered fibre web is formed by organic polymer fibres. The calendered fibre web has a compression factor C of at least 0.45 and at most 0.85.

An apparatus for assembling an aerosol-generating article, the apparatus including: a conveyor with a support surface configured to support at least two axially aligned rod-shaped segments of the aerosol-generating article; and a spacer, the apparatus being configured to move the spacer from a retracted position to an active position, in which the spacer provides an abutment means for the rod-shaped segments on the support surface, and the conveyor including the spacer. A method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article is also provided.

An apparatus for assembling an aerosol-generating article, the apparatus including: a conveyor with a support surface configured to support at least two axially aligned rod-shaped segments of the aerosol-generating article; and a spacer, the apparatus being configured to move the spacer from a retracted position to an active position, in which the spacer provides an abutment means for the rod-shaped segments on the support surface, and the conveyor including the spacer. A method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article is also provided.