Abstract: A plant for the manufacture of chipboard, fibreboard or similar boards is described wherein mat sections coming from a stationary scattering section are supplied via an intermediate conveyor to a cyclically operating press with a loading and unloading device, and wherein an arrangement is provided for returning mat carriers separated at the press outlet from the compressed mat sections. The mat sections are supplied to the intermediate conveyor from a forming band via a transfer table which variably overlaps the intermediate conveyor. This intermediate conveyor simultaneously serves as a supply unit for the mat carriers which are provided with laterally engageable head strips. The loading and unloading device of the press includes transport devices which extend on both sides of the press and cooperate with the head strips of the mat carriers. The transport devices extend, over a part of their length, parallel to and alongside the corresponding transport devices of the intermediate conveyor.