a disclosure relates to an apparatus for extruding and forming blanks from a rubber or polymeric material comprising a pair of hydraulic ram operated extruders having outlets connected to a common delivery conduit . a screw extruder is also connected to the conduit and a control valve controls flow between the respective extruders and conduit such that in one position of the valve one of the ram operated extruders is connected to the conduit outlet delivery of extrudate and the other extruder is connected to the screw extruder to receive a fresh charge of extrudate . a closed hydraulic circuit links the hydraulic rams of the two ram extruders whereby filling of one of the extruders causes that ram to retract and pump the hydraulic fluid therefrom to the other extruder to cause that ram to extend and thereby discharge the extrudate therein and vice versa . by feeding extrudate from the screw extruder , the hydraulic ram extruder being charged is caused to receive extrudate and the ram extruder discharging extrudate is caused to discharge extrudate . a cutter mechanism is provided at the outlet of the conduit severing the extrudate repeatedly at a rate determined by the advance / retraction of one of the hydraulic ram extruders to form blanks of substantially equal volume .