The prepreg is laid into the mould or preformed into a shaped charge to facilitate rapid loading in a hot tool.

The moulds/tools, which are usually machined or cast metal, are produced as matched male and female halves, the space between them defining the shape and wall thickness of the component being made.

The tool is mounted on the platens of a press. The tool is usually directly heated by electricity, oil or steam. In the case of direct oil or steam heating, flow passages are built into the tool. When using electricity, cartridge heaters may be installed within the mould. On small components, heat may be supplied via heated platens on the press.

Cure cycles can be accurately controlled, so the process can produce components of very high quality and consistency, with very accurate moulding tolerances being achieved and the process is also readily automated.

Due to the high costs of capital equipment and tooling, this method is best suited to high volume production. For short production runs, less expensive nickel electroformed, glass fibre or sprayed metal tooling can be used.

The tool is mounted on the platens of a press. The tool is usually heated directly by electricity, oil or steam. In the case of direct oil or steam heating, passages are built into the tool. When using electricity, cartridge heaters may be installed within the mould.  On small components, the heat may be supplied via heated platens in the press itself.

Cure cycles can be accurately controlled, so the process can produce components of very high quality and consistency, with very accurate moulding tolerances being achieved and the process readily automated.

Due to the high costs of capital equipment and tooling, this method is best suited to high volume production. For short production runs, less expensive nickel electroformed, glass fibre or sprayed metal tooling can be used.