a porous hardenable drainage element is produced from a molding compound of expanded plastics granulate and a bonding agent by virtue of the fact that the molding compound is received in a ladle having a pouring opening closed off by a mold bottom , the molding compound is pressurized in the ladle , the element is molded from the molding compound in a mold formed by lowering of the mold bottom down into an opening cross section consistent with a cross section of the pouring opening , and the element is separated from the molding compound by mutual lateral displacement of the mold and the ladle .