Heat transfer system with improved efficiency for composite panel production

A method comprising:

• forming a mat comprising paper fragments and plastic fragments;
• consolidating the formed mat in a continuous hot press, wherein the continuous hot press comprises a first pair of opposing top and bottom heating platens, a second pair of opposing top and bottom heating platens, and a third pair of opposing top and bottom heating platens, wherein the first heating platen pair, the second heating platen pair, and the third heating platen pair are disposed such that the formed mat is processed between the first heating platen pair and then the second heating platen pair and then the third heating platen pair, wherein a heating power of the first platen pair is greater than a heating power of the second platen pair and the heating power of the second platen pair is greater than a heating power of the third platen pair, and wherein the heating power of the first heating platen pair, the heating power of the second heating platen pair, and the heating power of the third platen pair are maintained constant with respect to time;
• and
• consolidating the formed mat in a continuous cold press, wherein the cold press comprises a first pair of opposing top and bottom cooling platens, a second pair of opposing top and bottom cooling platens, and a third pair of opposing top and bottom cooling platens, wherein the first cooling platen pair, the second cooling platen pair, and the third cooling platen pair are disposed such that the formed mat is processed between the first cooling platen pair, and then the second cooling platen pair, and then the third cooling platen pair, and wherein a cooling power of the first cooling platen pair is greater than a cooling power of the second cooling platen pair and the cooling power of the second cooling platen pair is greater than a cooling power of the third cooling platen pair.