Abstract: The invention is a method of producing a melt compression molded work piece (18) includes the steps of introducing an in-mold coating (19) onto a first mold half (12) of a mold tool (10), and introducing a work piece material (17) onto a second mold half (14) of the mold tool. The work piece material has a temperature at or above a temperature at which at least a portion of the work piece material is in a molten state. The mold is then opened and the work piece (18) is removed after the work piece material has at least partially cooled.

Abstract: A mold assembly for manufacturing composite plastic products includes a mold cavity part and a lid, which is joined to form a cavity for foam precursors. The precursors expand in the cavity in a known manner to fill the cavity with a suitable layer of foamed material, such as foamed urethane. The mold cavity supports an exterior shell and the lid supports an insert for reinforcing a finished composite product. A sleeve is integrally formed on the preformed shell and it in turn is located within an access port formed through wall of the cavity part to define a slideway for receipt of a pour head extension. The extension is selectively clamped and unclamped with respect to the shell sleeve by an inflatable seal clamp which is formed as an annular ring with a pressurizable passage connected to a source of selectively applied pressure.