apparatus for manufacturing articles is disclosed in which a preheated sheet of thermoplastic material is intermittently fed to present successive preheated portions of the sheet in a work station having a forming tool for forming articles in each successive sheet portion and a stamping tool for co - operating with the forming tool to stamp the formed articles from the sheet . the forming tool has a plurality of forming dies which are movable successively and cyclically into the work station for forming articles in respective successive sheet portions . after each forming operation the stamping tool is brought into engagement with a resilient counter - surface on the forming die to stamp from the sheet the articles formed by that die .