Method of forming a spliced joint in a handrail or other elongate article

A method of forming a spliced joint in a moving handrail, the handrail comprising a thermoplastic body having a generally C-shaped cross section and defining a T-shaped slot, a stretch inhibitor in the thermoplastic body above the T-shaped slot and a slider fabric layer around an interior of the T-shaped slot, wherein the handrail comprises first and second end portions, each comprising a forward part extending from an end surface of the end portion and a rear part adjacent the forward part, the method comprising:

• in each of the rear and forward parts of the first and second end portions, providing a first horizontal cut to separate a top section of the thermoplastic body from a base section comprising shoulder portions of the thermoplastic body, the slider fabric layer and a layer of thermoplastic above the slider fabric layer joining the shoulder portions together;
• for each end portion, removing at least the shoulder portions from the forward part thereof, to leave a central portion comprising a forward part of the slider fabric layer and the layer of thermoplastic;
• cutting the forward parts of the slider fabric layer and the layer of thermoplastic to a required shape;
• and
• assembling the first and second end portions together to form a spliced joint for moulding,
• wherein the assembled spliced joint is placed in a mould and comprising heating the assembled spliced joint to a temperature above 170 degrees Celsius for a time period of at least 30 seconds, whereby the various thermoplastic components melt and bond together, to form a completed spliced joint, and cooling the assembled spliced joint before removal from the mould,
• wherein the mould comprises two mould parts enclosing the assembled spliced joint and a core element fitting in the T-shaped slot of the handrail, wherein the core element is mounted floating in the T-shaped slot,
• comprising providing actuators for providing pressure on the core element urging the core element in a direction towards the top of the handrail, wherein during at least heating of the assembled spliced joint, the actuators apply pressure to the core element, and
• wherein after cooling of the assembled spliced joint, the mould parts are separated to release the assembled spliced joint and the actuators apply further pressure to urge the core element away from one of the mould elements.