An apparatus for manufacturing an insulating pipe section includes a rotatable longitudinal mandrel configured for receiving and winding uncured mineral wool around the mandrel to manufacture an insulating pipe section, a belt, preferably an endless belt, at least two longitudinal jaws engaging the belt, wherein the jaws are configured for surrounding the mandrel with the belt, and a mandrel controlling element configured for actively controlling a transverse movement of the mandrel.

A method for forming a heated thermoplastic composite material into a closed profile using a tooling includes a) forming, during a first forming stage, a heated thermoplastic composite in a first space between a male tooling part and a female tooling part, b) forming, during a second forming stage, the thermoplastic composite material by engaging a first segment and/or second segment of the thermoplastic composite material with at least one auxiliary tooling part to thereby bring the first and second segments closer together, and c) forming, during a third forming stage, the thermoplastic composite material by pressing, using a pressing tooling part, the thermoplastic composite material around the male tooling part thereby creating a seam between the first and second segment.

A method for forming a heated thermoplastic composite material into a closed profile using a tooling includes a) forming, during a first forming stage, a heated thermoplastic composite in a first space between a male tooling part and a female tooling part, b) forming, during a second forming stage, the thermoplastic composite material by engaging a first segment and/or second segment of the thermoplastic composite material with at least one auxiliary tooling part to thereby bring the first and second segments closer together, and c) forming, during a third forming stage, the thermoplastic composite material by pressing, using a pressing tooling part, the thermoplastic composite material around the male tooling part thereby creating a seam between the first and second segment.