Vacuum Press

Overview:

The ski is constructed by sandwiching layers of varying material together against a mold to form a composite which gives it it’s strength and profile. In order to adhere the layers together, pressure needs to be applied evenly across the length of it. The two most common ways to achieve this are via a pneumatic press, or a vacuum press. The latter, a vacuum press, utilizes a vacuum pump to seal a silicone sheet against the top of the layers and mold:

The vacuum pump sucks air from under the silicone cover, such that the column of air above the silicone sheet presses the skis down against the mold with a pressure of approximately 1 atmosphere (approximately 14.7 psi). The resulting compressive force on an average set of skis is about 8,000 pounds!