Manufacturing Reinforced Articles

A machine sequentially manufacturing a plurality of reinforced substrates such as shoe uppers, comprising a powder deposition station (30) wherein a stencil assembly (42) [Fig. 6] applies powder onto an annular receiving belt (22), the powder being applied in a three- dimensional configuration because of a peripheral spacing element arranged on the cut- out between the stencil (42) and the receiving surface (22). The annular receiving surface (22) is rotated stepwise to an arcuate heating station where the powder is fused by heating elements (34) [Fig. 3] arranged thereabove and therebelow. The fused powder is then moved to a join and cool station where a substrate is pressed against the fused powder by a transfer cube (140) [Fig. 1] causing it to press against a chill plate (120) therebeneath. The substrate is lifted by the transfer cube (140) from the receiving surface (22) after it has cooled, the transfer cube (140) rotating so as to remove the now reinforced substrate from the receiving surface (22) to enable it to be removed therefrom, and a subsequent substrate gripped therein for subsequent reinforcement thereof.