Method of forming a pack of fibrous material ribbon and pack formed thereby

A package (10) of a continuous strip (11) of material comprises a plurality of parallel side by side stacks (20, 21, 22, 23) each containing a length of the strip (11) which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack (20, 21, 22, 23) is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the stip (11) and such that the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip (11) is continuous through each stack (20, 21, 22, 23) and is connected by a splice (46) from the end of one stack to beginning of the next stack. The package (10) is compressed to reduce the height of the stacks (20, 21, 22, 23) and maintained in the compressed condition by an evacuated sealed bag (40). The preferred package arrangement uses the package (10) for pay off of the strip (11) in the orientation in which it is formed with the bottom of the stacks (20, 21, 22, 23) resting on a support and the package (10) tilted to one side so that the stacks (20, 21, 22, 23) lean against a support surface (81) for stability. The spliced connecting portions (44, 45) extend along one end of the package (10) and are folded to take up the difference in height between the compressed condition and the released condition for unfolding. A spacer plate (58) prevents the connecting portion from being wrinkled against the end of the package (10) under the compression from the bag.