A COMPRESSION MOULDING METHOD AND APPARATUS

A method for forming an object, comprising the steps of: - providing a mould (1; 101; 201; 301; 401; 501) comprising a first mould part (2; 102; 202; 302; 502) and a second mould part (3; 103; 203; 303; 503) opposite to each other, a part selected from between the first mould part and the second mould part comprising a plurality of sectors (8; 108; 208; 308; 508) for shaping at least a lateral portion of the object, the sectors delimiting a variable-volume forming region (4) of the mould; - positioning a dosed amount (100; 400; 500) of mouldable material between the first mould part and the second mould part while the mould is in an open position; - displacing the first mould part and the second mould part towards each other in a moulding direction (D), to define between the first mould part and the second mould part a closed forming chamber (17) bringing into contact respective abutment surfaces (71, 72; 571, 572) of the first mould part and the second mould part, the abutment surfaces extending transversely to the moulding direction, The method further comprises the step of moving the sectors transversely to the moulding direction to reduce the volume of the variable-volume forming region. The mould comprises a forming component (15; 115; 215; 315; 515) which penetrates into the variable-volume forming region, compressing the mouldable material in the moulding direction.