a method and apparatus are disclosed for transferring blanks , plastic parisons or other articles to be molded in a sealed cavity . one embodiment includes mold sections which are closeable along a first axis to form a mold cavity and which are movable along a second axis from a first station where the mold sections may receive a moldable blank to a second station where the blank may be molded under pressure . optional biasing means may be included to hold the mold sections sufficiently close together to hold the blank in the mold cavity as the mold sections move from the first station to the second station . a clamp , or other pressure applying means , exerts a final closing pressure on the mold sections at the second station for molding the blank under pressure . the clamp is stationary in relation to the first and second stations so that the mold sections can move relative to the clamp along the second axis .