Abstract: Two mold sections of a mold for compressing a ceramic or refractory material into tile preforms are mounted on respective platens of a pressing machine for displacement toward and away from one another. One of the platens is a part of a frame which further includes upright beams and a support stationarily mounted on the upper ends of the beams. A plurality of cylinder-and-piston units the pistons of which are accommodated in bores of the movable platen and the piston rods of which extend outwardly of the bores and toward the support, is distributed over the movable platen and so acts thereon as to avoid bending of the movable platen.