Abstract: This application relates to a novel method and apparatus for hydrating, freezing and cutting packaged hydration material. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel method and apparatus for drawing unhydrated sandwich packaged hydration gel material from a roll of such material, hydrating the material in a hydration tank, freezing the hydrated material in a freezing chamber, and cutting the frozen hydrated material into pieces according to prescribed lengths. A process of continuously hydrating, freezing and cutting a hydratable polymer containing web of material which comprises: (a) passing the web into a water hydration vessel for sufficient time to hydrate the hydratable polymer; (b) withdrawing the web from the hydration vessel and passing the web through a freezer for sufficient time to enable the web to freeze; and (c) withdrawing the frozen web from the freezer and cutting the frozen web into prescribed lengths.