Method and apparatus utilizing servo motors for placing parts onto a moving web

An apparatus is arranged for receiving discrete parts (30) of an elastic material travelling at a first speed and applying the parts (30) to a carrier (80) travelling at a second speed. The apparatus comprises at least one rotatable transferring device (50), each transferring device including at least one shell segment (51) configured to move along an orbital path through a receiving zone (21) where the parts (30) are received and an application zone (23) where the parts (30) are applied to the carrier (80). The apparatus also comprises one driving mechanism (61) for each transferring device (50), each driving mechanism including a programmable motor (64) for transmitting rotational energy to the respective transferring device (50). Each driving mechanism (61) is configured to drive the respective transferring device (50) to move through the receiving zone (21) at a surface speed which is different to the first speed or move through the application zone (23) at a surface speed which is different to the second speed. In this way, the parts may be tensioned or relaxed as they are transferred to or from the apparatus.