Method for molding a shaped plastic trim panel

A method for molding a shaped plastic trim panel and trimming the shaped plastic trim panel comprising the steps of:

• providing a press for molding a shaped plastic trim panel having an upper mold member and a lower mold member that move relative to each other between a mold open position and a closed molding position, one of the mold members having a severing slot outwardly of a molding surface and clamping shoulders on opposite sides of the severing slot, the other of said mold members having a cutting blade that moves relative to the other said mold member between a retracted position and a protracted cutting position penetrating into the severing slot and cooperating clamping shoulders on opposite sides of the cutting blade,
• molding the shaped plastic trim member in the press by moving the upper and lower mold members to the mold closed molding position with the cutting blade in the retracted position so that the molded plastic trim panel has a peripheral margin that is clamped on opposite sides of the severing slot by the clamping shoulders of the one mold member and the cooperating clamping shoulders of the other said mold member, and
• trimming the shaped molded plastic trim panel while the upper and lower mold members are in the closed molding position by moving the cutting blade relative to the other said mold member from the retracted position to the protracted cutting position so that the cutting blade penetrates into the severing slot and cuts through the peripheral margin of the shaped molded plastic trim panel between clamped portions of the peripheral margin portions on opposite sides of the severing slot.