Hot box exchange capability and method thereof

A removable hot box that is removable from a press, the removable hot box comprising:

• a lower hot box portion, comprising:
• a lower housing comprising a plurality of lower clamping structures configured to clamp the lower housing to the press and one or more locating structures configured to provide repeatable placing in the press;
• and a lower heating platen, received within the lower housing and configured to support a lower die, wherein the lower housing or the lower heating platen comprises one or more lower electrical connectors configured to provide a lower electrical connection to a heating system and one or more lower cooling connectors configured to provide a lower cooling connection to a cooling system;
• an upper hot box portion, positionable above the lower hot box portion and comprising:
• an upper housing comprising a plurality of upper clamping structures configured to clamp the upper housing to the press;
• an upper heating platen, received within the upper housing and configured to support an upper die, wherein the upper housing or the upper heating platen comprises one or more upper electrical connectors configured to provide an upper electrical connection to the heating system and one or more upper cooling connectors configured to provide an upper cooling connection to the cooling system;
• and
• a flexible heat seal positioned between the lower hot box portion and the upper hot box portion configured to provide a secure and joined connection between the lower hot box portion and the upper hot box portion.