Disclosed are methods and devices for the engineering, formation, and post-formation handling of absorbent polymeric materials.

It has at least one die (2) provided with at least one product shaping opening (16), and, in the direction of product progress, an after-shaping piece (3) with at least one shaping hole (15), placed after the die (2).

Alternatively the flaps may be formed in a faces seal carrier (62), the arrangement being that the carrier can be bonded to the mask post forming.

Also disclosed are underdrawn continuous/disperse phase optical bodies that are particularly well-suited to post-forming operations.

Tube containers that have a barrier structure can be altered in shape by post-forming techniques.

The element is made by a process such as a lost wax casting process, which requires no machining or any other post-forming treatment.

The invention further relates to a coated substrate as obtainable by the said method, and its use in a post-forming process.