Heat recovery apparatus and method for molding

Apparatus for pre-heating moldable materials prior to molding using heat recovered from the molding process comprising:

• a) molding apparatus having an interior surface defining a molding chamber, and at least one fluid flow channel passing through the apparatus and being thermally coupled to the molding chamber;
• b) a heat exchanger;
• c) said fluid flow channel communicating with the molding apparatus and the heat exchanger for fluid circulation between the molding apparatus and the heat exchange apparatus to transfer heat from a molded product and parts of the molding apparatus adjacent thereto within the molding apparatus to the heat exchanger;
• and
• d) a container housing raw materials for molding into a molded product the container interior being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger such that a second fluid transfers heat from the heat exchanger to the container raw material contents so as to heat the raw materials prior to molding.