honeycomb extrudate is made by extruding a plasticized ceramic - forming batch material to form a length of wet honeycomb extrudate , transferring the extrudate to a support tray , and transferring the tray and extrudate to a dryer , the tray being capable of contactingly supporting greater than one - third of the circumferential surface of the wet extrudate . the extrudate is subject to reduced handling damage , e . g . from forces of gravitational and / or lateral acceleration arising during transfer .