In the manufacture of a padded element, such as a seat cushion for motor vehicles, the cushion cover (3) (of cloth, leather, synthetic material or the like) is applied to the padding (2) (usually of expanded plastics material) after having been formed to the shape of the surface of the padding (2) by means of pressing in a metal die and the simultaneous application of steam. The flow of steam reaches the cover by passing through the lower part (12) of the die and emerging from passages (17) provided in the wall which is in contact with the material. The steam used during the operation of pressing of the material is drawn from a reservoir (24) of pressurised steam, whose chamber is not in direct communication with the passages and whose body is in a thermally conducting relationship with the wall of the die.