The present invention relates to a method of forming a molded fibrous product, comprising the steps of foaming an aqueous suspension of natural fibers, optionally in combination with synthetic fibers, to provide a first fibrous foam, a surfactant may be added to aid the foaming, feeding the fibrous foam into a mold, mechanically withdrawing a part of the water contained in the foam to produce a solidified, moist fibrous composition, and evaporating water from the solidified, moist fibrous composition to produce a dry fibrous product.

A method of molding a sole (6) in vulcanized foam rubber for footwear, includes preparing a rubber in the form of a strip, preformed and/or granules, mixing the rubber inside a loading and mixing chamber (10), and preparing a mold (4) for the molding of a footwear sole (6). The mold (4) defines a molding chamber (8) counter-shaped with respect to a footwear sole (6). The mixed material is conveyed inside the molding chamber (8) and molding the footwear sole (6) inside the molding chamber (8) and the footwear sole (6) is removed from the mold (4). The rubber includes a foaming agent able to generate an expansion of the material inside the molding chamber (8) during molding, so as to uniformly fill the molding chamber (8) with the foam rubber. The foam material is vulcanized inside the molding chamber (8).