Abstract: Apparatus for compression molding thermoplastic backed carpeting in deep draft molds wherein carpeting is precut into sheets, heated, positioned between the mold parts, clamped at selected locations around its periphery, differentially prestretched by tensioning actuators, compression molded, cooled and removed from the mold. Tensioning actuators draw the sheet material downwardly into the deep draft of the mold and further stretch the material in the region of shallow draft, uniformly thinning the material. Stretching of the material by the mold during the compression molding step is minimized in this method. Prestretching allows sheets to be precut to a smaller size than the mold for more efficient use of material and provides control of product thickness independent of mold draft.