Abstract: A continuously operating press or prepress comprises:Two superposed endless platen belts, each formed from a plurality of articulated platens, the superposed endless platen belts defining together a material pressing travel for material being pressed by the press or prepress. The material pressing travel path defines a high pressure zone and an inlet zone where the individual platens of at least one of the endless platen belts move from a configuration in which each platen is angularly offset with respect to the following platen to an essentially coplanar configuration. Moreover, each platen defines a leading projection coplanar with the body portion of the platen and projecting beyond the trailing end of the leading platen attached thereto, and furthermore the body portion of each platen defines a recess for receiving the leading projection of the trailing platen attached thereto.