knife contacts the fabric then the heat flow from the knife to the fabric is also relatively small accordingly a longer dwell time and or slower run speed is demanded in order to permit a sufficient amount of heat to be transferred so that the edge of the ribbon is suitably melted and or fused to the degree appropriate for achieving the desired durability with reference now to fig1 there is shown an exemplary slitter 10 usable in accordance with aspects of the present inventive subject matter generally the present slitter divides i the fusing function and ii the cutting or slitting function into two distinct operations first the web under goes fusing where the edge of each ribbon is to be ultimately formed as illustrated in fig1 one or more heated fusing elements or rollers 20 conduct the fusing suitably a plurality of heated fusing elements or rollers 20 are spaced out along the width of the web at the desired slitting locations or widths more specifically at and or near the region where the heated fusing elements contact the web the fabric or fibers thereof are melted and or fused together accordingly as the web moves past each of the heated fusing elements 20 this forms a track wherein the fabric or fibers of the web are fused together second the web is run past one or more slitting knifes or cutting wheels 30 for example as shown in the illustrated embodiment there is one knife or.