Abstract: An apparatus for removing a cylindrical tubular elastomeric cover from and applying a cylindrical tubular elastomeric cover to a cylindrical top roll mandrel of a top roll. An attachment holder holds a selected cover removing or cover applying attachment. A cover applying attachment is held by the attachment holder for carrying a top roll cover to be applied to the top roll mandrel. A cover stripping attachment is provided for being held by the attachment holder and for stripping a cover from a top roll mandrel. A chuck is provided for holding a top roll mandrel with a cover to be removed by the cover stripping attachment, or a top roll mandrel without a cover for receiving a cover applied by the cover applying attachment. A piston and cylinder assembly moves the top roll mandrel reciprocally to and from the attachment holder and the cover applying attachment or the cover stripping attachment held by the attachment holder to thereby apply a cover to or remove the cover from the top roll mandrel.

Abstract: A method of molding a fibre reinforced resinous material comprising providing fibrous reinforcement in an initially uncured resin matrix, initiating a cycle which will result in the curing of the matrix and which includes an initial cure phase and a post cure phase, and selecting any one or more of the resin system, cure phases or initial cure temperature so that the sum of the fractional thickness change during the initial cure phase and the fractional thickness change during the post cure phase being equal to or differing by a predetermined amount from the fractional dimensional change in the plane of the fibre reinforcement at the desired end-use temperature at which greatest dimensional accuracy is required.