chain 30 to the needler 50 as shown needler 50 has a needle board 51 to which are affixed a plurality of needles 52 typically arranged in parallel rows the needler 50 is provided with a stripper plate 53 with appropriate drilled holes 54 arranged in rows so that needles 52 can readily pass through them during needling a bed plate 55 is also provided in needler 50 which also has a plurality of holes 56 arranged in rows and sized so that needles 52 of needle board 51 may pass through them plate 55 also serves as a surface on which mat 1 rests during its passage through the needler 50 as shown the needle board 51 reciprocates as depicted by the arrows to push needles 52 through mat 1 and both of the plates 53 and 55 to thereby entangle the strand forming mat 1 during its passage through the needler 50 mat 1 is advanced through the needler 50 by the drive roller 58 which exerts a pulling force on mat 1 track 59 is supplied to catch broken glass filaments passing through the holes 56 of plate 55 the needler 50 and in particular the needling zone i e the area between plates 53 and 55 in needler 50 is environmentally controlled to maintain that.