A double belt press has at least one press device having at least one pressing plate and at least one counter-pressure element for the pressing plate each other. Portions of first and second endless and driven metal belt belts are guided, opposite one another, through a press gap located between the pressing plate sides facing one another and the plate-shaped counter-pressure element. The press device has at least one pressing stamp having a pressing surface movable toward the counter-pressure element and back again. The first and second endless metal belt portions guided through the press gap are guided between the pressing surface of the at least one pressing stamp and the at least one counter-pressure element, and the pressing surface of the pressing stamp is smaller than a surface of the side of the at least one pressing plate facing the at least one counter-pressure element.

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.

A method for producing a separator plate, where thermoplastic polymer material and a powder of electro-conductive filler, ECF is kneaded at a kneading temperature above a glass transition temperature for the thermoplastic polymer material but below a melting temperature for the thermoplastic polymer material in order to provide a malleable but not molten compound and for causing fibrillization in the thermoplastic polymer material prior to hot-compacting the sheet in a press-form to form a separator plate. A production facility for practicing the method is also disclosed.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method including at least one of one or more pairs of shapeable and flexible dual-temperature bands and a rotating assembly that rotates the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to impart a twist to the thermoplastic composite.

An apparatus and process for forming material, the apparatus or process comprising at least one forming unit, each said forming unit having at least one forming opening to receive a feed of material to be formed, the at least one of said forming opening(s) comprises opposing or at least one forming surfaces, at least one of said opposing forming surfaces being dynamically controllable into a pre-determined shape or profile to impart a resultant shape or profile of a pre-determined formation upon the feed of material passing through said forming opening of a said forming unit.

In accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure, a method producing a composite board comprising plastic and cellulose is described. The method includes transmitting a first signal to a pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the first signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to compress and heat a composite mat; transmitting a second signal to the pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the second signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to heat and compress the composite mat at substantially a first pressure for a first time period; transmitting a third signal to the pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the third signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to release the composite mat from the first pressure; and transmitting a fourth signal to a pair of opposing cold-platens, receipt of the fourth signal causing the pair of opposing cold-platens to compress and cool the composite mat.

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. The polymeric material is then at least partially solidified. The soluble material is then removed such as by solvent washing to thereby produce desired porous articles. Also described are systems for performing the various processes.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a molded article obtained by double belt press molding a thermosetting prepreg, in which the thermosetting prepreg is coated with a release film during molding, and a width of the prepreg is 1 to 25 mm smaller than that of the release film. This manufacturing method suppresses burr generation and fiber twisting, and is excellent in width restriction, and thus can be suitably used for, for example, automobile members, railroad vehicle members, aerospace machine members, ship members, household equipment members, sporting goods members, light vehicle members, building and civil engineering members, and housings for OA equipment and the like.

In accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure, a method producing a composite board comprising plastic and cellulose is described. The method includes transmitting a first signal to a pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the first signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to compress and heat a composite mat; transmitting a second signal to the pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the second signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to heat and compress the composite mat at substantially a first pressure for a first time period; transmitting a third signal to the pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the third signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to release the composite mat from the first pressure; and transmitting a fourth signal to a pair of opposing cold-platens, receipt of the fourth signal causing the pair of opposing cold-platens to compress and cool the composite mat.