A double belt press includes a pair of belts disposed at an upper side and a lower side of a fiber material which is supplied to the pair of belts to rotate in opposite directions for pressing the fiber material from the upper side and the lower side while conveying the fiber material. At least two convey rollers are disposed in the pair of belts for moving the pair of belts. A detector is configured to detect whether a belt meanders. A pressure supply unit configured to supply pressure to the belts. A controller is configured to control pressure supplied to both sides of each belt through the pressure supply unit when the belt meanders according to a detection result from the detector.

A compression apparatus (10) for compressing a tubular structure (12) to be formed into a hollow structure (20) such as a pipe comprises contact elements (60) arranged in two sets, (61, 62). The contact elements (60) are adapted to move along a compression section (41) in a coordinated sequence, whereby a portion (12a) of the tubular structure (12) within the compression section (41) is compressed between pairs (63) of opposed contact elements. The apparatus (10) includes registration means (110) for causing respective pairs (63) of opposed contact elements (60) to be maintained in registration with each other while moving along the compression section (41).

Multiple processes for preparing porous articles are described. The porous articles can be in a wide array of shapes and configurations. The methods include providing a soluble material in particulate form and forming a packed region from the material. The methods also include contacting a flowable polymeric material with the packed region such that the polymeric material is disposed in voids in the packed region. Also described are systems for performing the various processes.

A double belt press apparatus includes an upper belt unit, a lower belt unit, a pressing unit, and a guide unit. The guide unit includes a first guide member and a second guide member. The first guide member has a first guide surface extending along one side edge of the upper endless belt. The second guide member has a second guide surface extending along the other side edge of the upper endless belt. The first and second guide members are disposed so that the first and second guide surfaces block the gap between the upper endless belt and a lower endless belt from sides closer to the side edges, respectively.

Multiple processes for preparing porous articles are described. The porous articles can be in a wide array of shapes and configurations. The methods include providing a soluble material in particulate form and forming a packed region from the material. The methods also include contacting a flowable polymeric material with the packed region such that the polymeric material is disposed in voids in the packed region. Also described are systems for performing the various processes.

A system for manufacturing a panel includes a forming assembly having opposing press plates and at least one platen assembly arranged between the opposing press plates. The platen assembly includes first and second platens connected together via at least one elastic deformable member. Further, the forming assembly is operable in a heating mode and a cooling mode. Moreover, the first platen is maintained at a predetermined temperature range during each of the heating and cooling modes. During the heating mode, the elastic deformable member(s) is compressed such that the first and second platens contact each other. As such, one or more layers of material to be consolidated are held by the forming assembly as the forming assembly applies heat and pressure to the layer(s), thereby consolidating the panel.