a continuously operating press produces particle , fiber , plastic and wood boards continuously from pressing stock . the press includes a heating platen provided on one side of the press and a plurality of press platen segments arranged on a side opposite to the heating platen . the press platen segments are resiliently coupled to one another by snap - action hinges and the separation space between the press platen segments and the heating platen is independently adjusted . the pressing stock is pulled through the separation space which has been optimally controlled to produce boards with desired density profiles at a maximum production speed .