Abstract: The present invention relates to papermaking and particularly to a method of producing a fibrous web of uniform thickness and variable width which comprises feeding fibres from a supply zone which is in a fixed position and has a first lateral dimension into an expansion zone, permitting said fed fibres to fall through said expansion zone while moving laterally outwardly to form downwardly progressing zones of progressively decreasing fibre density, establishing a suction zone beneath said expansion zone said suction zone having a second lateral dimension which is variable and greater than said first lateral dimension and reducing the pressure in said suction zone to below the pressure in said expansion zone by an amount sufficient to form a web of fibres between said expansion and suction zones but insufficient to prevent said laterally outward movement of said fed fibres and forming a web of fibres between said expansion and suction zones which extends over the whole width of said second lateral dimension a