The technique of compression molding has stood the test of time since its humble beginnings in the 1890s, when Harvey Firestone first molded rubber products in his home oven. While technology has advanced, the core principles of compression molding remain largely unchanged. This process involves shaping raw rubber compounds or pre-mixed materials into “pre-forms” that roughly match the final product’s shape. These pre-forms are carefully loaded into open molds, usually by hand, where the mold is closed, the rubber is cured, and the finished part is demolded manually.
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