A method of manufacturing a composite profile having a non-circular cross section, comprising the steps of—actuating a string of mandrel sections (1) having a non-circular cross section to move axially in a one way motion through one or more orbital winding stations (3) that are rotationally disposed about to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel in one or more passes,—continuously helically winding in one or more winding stations tape comprising a bundle of parallel longitudinally extending fibres in a thermoplastic matrix material onto the mandrel sections or a previously wound layer to form layers (4) of a wall of a thin walled profile having a closed cross section including at least one planar surface, and—cutting the thin walled profile into profile sections that are carried on one or more mandrel section sections, wherein the layer is consolidated with the previous layer prior to cutting.