A method and apparatus for pressing an article includes a press arm and a press platen defining a pressing region positioned therebetween. First and second endless steel bands transmit a pressing force to an article to be pressed and draw the article through the press. A plurality of co-rotating rolling rods support the steel bands as they travel through the press. The rolling rods are introduced to an entry region of the press orthogonally relative to a longitudinal center of the press. First and second resilient pressure holding plates located in the entry region adjacent the press platen and the press ram, respectively, impose a pressure on the rolling rods that progressively increases as the rolling rods pass through the entry region.