A web formed of a multiplicity of general parallel fibers or filaments is fed downwardly and incrementally toward a platen forming a lower element of a generally horizontal guide. A shear periodically moves across the path of the web so as to shear from the end thereof a section having a length slightly greater than the height of the guide. The lower edge of the upper element of the guide constitutes one of the shear elements so that as each section is cut off it is pressed into the end of the guide. Simultaneously with each cutting operation the stack formed in the guide is moved incrementally toward the downstream end thereof. As the stack emerges from the downstream end the sections are pressed end-wise into an adhesive layer on a substrate.