Method and mould for manufacturing a moulded article comprising at least an elastomeric polyurethane skin

A method for manufacturing a moulded article comprising at least an elastomeric polyurethane skin, showing a front and a back, and a structural backing layer, which method comprises the steps of:

• providing a mould with at least a first mould part comprising at least two mutually movable mould sections forming at least one seam and showing at least one undercut;
• positioning a removable flexible liner, which has an average thickness of between 0.03 and 15 mm and which is made of an elastic material, onto said mould sections to cover at least partially said seam;
• applying a vacuum to suck the flexible liner against said mould sections;
• spraying at least one reactive polyurethane mixture onto a surface of said first mould part, which is at least partially formed by said flexible liner, to mould said skin with its front against the mould surface;
• uniting the structural backing layer to the back of the skin;
• moving the mutually movable mould sections away from one another while leaving the flexible liner on the moulded article;
• removing the moulded article from the mould and the flexible liner from the moulded article;
• and
• repositioning the flexible liner onto said mould sections and manufacturing a next moulded article.