A mould lifting device is suitable for use in lifting and rotating a middle mould. At each of two lateral surfaces of the middle mould is provided a pivot portion. The mould lifting device includes: a platform, two longitudinal guide assemblies, two transmissions, a power assembly, two lifting members, two push members, two pivot arms, and two covers. When the pivot arms lift and rotate the middle mould, the lifted portion of the covers will not be pushed by the lifting portions of the lifting members anymore, and the covers will naturally pivot downward by gravity to make the cover portions cover the openings of the restricting grooves, which prevents the disengagement of the pivot portions of the middle mould from the restricting grooves, and thus improving the stability and security of the middle mould during the course of lifting and rotation.

Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold for molding articles of footwear having sole regions of differing materials forming a desired outsole surface material pattern. The multi-part mold includes a carrier mold portion and a tray mold portion. The carrier mold portion provides definition to the lateral surfaces of a resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion cooperates with the carrier mold portion and provides definition to another (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion generally includes at least one pod or cavity for receiving a first material that when cured/catalyzed, defines a patterned other (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant product. A multi-part mold having the structure as described herein permits interchangeability of multiple tray mold portions with a single carrier mold portion.

A method for making a cleated plate member of an article of footwear includes forming a blade cleat assembly having an anchor member associated with a blade member, the blade member having a planar body, the body having a base portion, a head portion opposite the base portion, and a through hole formed in the base portion, a first molding material of the anchor member surrounding the base portion of the blade member and extending through the through hole formed in the base portion of the blade member, and associating the blade cleat assembly with an exposed surface of a plate body to form a cleated plate member. The base portion of the blade member further may include a pair of opposing shoulder flange portions. A blade cleat assembly may be disposed in a cleat assembly receptacle of a mold system configured to form a cleated plate member.