Abstract: A device for the manufacture of pressed profiled bodies from a non ascending mixture and including a raisable and depressable heated pressing tool upper part formed as a flat plate, at least one pressing tool lowerpart disposed below the pressing tool upper part and having a cavity containing the mixture to be pressed, a reversible raisable and depressible frame surrounding the cavity and having a side facing the pressing tool upperpart, and a frame part disposed on the side of the frame and movable towards the pressing tool upper part.

Abstract: A composite article is obtained by forming a body of a mixture of a fibrous material with a heat-hardening binder, by interposing between the body and a coating layer an intermediate layer having a tear-resistance and stiffness exceeding those of the coating material and impregnated with a resin which softens more slowly than a different resin with which the coating layer is impregnated, and by transforming the assembly of the body with the layers into the final article. During the transformation, the assembly is heated to a temperature at which the binder of the body hardens, and the resin of the intermediate layer softens more slowly than that of the coating layer. The intermediate layer may include asbestos fibers, or it may be a metallic foil or a soda craft paper.