Device and method for manufactoring plastic containers

A device for producing motor vehicle fuel tanks, comprising:

• a first press table including a pivot arm, a first mold half and a second mold half arranged on the pivot arm, the first mold half and the second mold half configured to receive first heated and thermoformed plastic half-shells, when the pivot arm is movable between a first position over the first press table in which the first and second mold halves are open toward one another such that, by the first mold half being pressed onto the second mold half, the first heated and thermoformed plastic half-shells are fused to one another at overlapping edges thereof to form a first fuel tank, and a second position in which the first and second mold halves are arranged beside one another and are upwardly open;
• a second press table including the pivot arm, a third mold half and a fourth mold half arranged on the pivot arm, the first mold half and the second mold half configured to receive second heated and thermoformed plastic half-shells, wherein in the second position, the pivot arm is over the second press table in which the third and the fourth mold halves are open toward one another such that, by the third mold half being pressed onto the fourth mold half, the second heated and thermoformed plastics half-shells are fused to one another at overlapping edges thereof to form a second fuel tank;
• and
• a bias mechanism to at least partially move the pivot arm between the first and the second positions and which utilizes the weight of the pivot arm for the lifting of the pivot arm.