Abstract: A plastic pipe coupling is formed by a pressing operation upon a section of extruded pipe that has been heat softened. The method of forming includes enclosure of the entire pipe section in a mold and longitudinal compression of the heat softened plastic to obtain wall thickness greater than the original extruded pipe section. The apparatus includes compressor members to shorten the heat softened extruded pipe section, a rigid external die or mold to shape the exterior, expanding mandrels made of mechanically rigid materials to accurately form the interior, and structure to accurately position the mandrels with respect to the outer mold to obtain accurate wall thickness.