Abstract: A press apparatus for use in manufacture of a liquid crystal panel presses upper and lower glass substrates placed between a pressure-exerting plate and a pressure-receiving plate while a seal located around the glass substrates is being heated and melted. The pressure-exerting plate is supported by a pressure-transmitting plate through three load cells. The pressure-transmitting plate presses the pressure-exerting plate against the pressure-receiving plate through the load cells and thereby presses the glass substrates uniformly. When a difference between the detection values of the load cells exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the glass substrates are not being pressed uniformly and the pressing operations thus stopped.