This molding machine has stations with molds that open and close, and has an indexing head that rotates periodically to shift core rods from one operating station to the next. A safety gate surrounds the space in which the mold and indexing head are located. The gate has to be raised to give an attendant access to the molds and indexing head, and when the gate is raised there are interferences that prevent the machine from operating, including latches that hold the molds open and limit switches that shut off power to the indexing head motor. There is novel power-operated mechanism for raising and lowering the gate so that all portions of the gate move up and down in synchronism.