then folded around the withdrawal cord and compressed into the final tampon shape the resulting tampon expands when wet into a cup shaped configuration application_number US 25514981 A description the sequence of fig1 to 11 corresponds to the manufacturing phases of the tampon according to the invention fig1 shows a nonwoven ribbon 10 which is permeable to moisture with a thin narrow film 14 being continuously placed on the longitudinal centre of the nonwoven ribbon symmetrically to the central longitudinal axis 18 thereof this film can consist of paper treated with plastic or wax of plastic or of similar tear resistant materials which are impermeable to water preferably the material of the film is heat sealable optionally the use of this film can also be dispensed with moreover absorbent material inserts 16 are applied to the nonwoven ribbon and to the film 14 and these are arranged side by side at approximately equal lateral intervals from the central longitudinal axis 18 and successively at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the nonwoven ribbon each of the absorbent material inserts 16 covers a part of the film 14 and of the nonwoven ribbon which in each case extends to one side of the film alternatively to the illustrative embodiment shown in fig1 it is possible in place of an arrangement with pairs of adjacent absorbent material inserts in the transverse direction of the nonwoven ribbon only to provide a single absorbent material insert in each case which accordingly extends over the central longitudinal axis 18 in this case however it is advisable for the reasons described below to use a smaller amount of absorbent material in the zone of the central longitudinal axis 18.