A new system and method for making agglomerates from material like wet
chopped glass fiber strand segments is disclosed and the agglomerates so
produced. Agglomerates, made by feeding wet chopped fiber strand segments
into a wave chamber having a vibrating curved surface supporting a
curved, dimpled liner working surface have improved density and flow
characteristics compared with dry chopped strands, but it was discovered
that the dimpled liner flexes during operation during vibration causing
undesirable variation in properties like agglomerate size. In the
invention the dimpled liner is backed up with a substantially
non-compressible material and this results in agglomerates that have even
better uniformity of flow and agglomerate diameters. Typical backing
materials include a particulate material, an elastomer, a rididized
elastomer, slurry or liquid, or wire or slivers of metal.