2 illustrate an apparatus for the manufacture of pipes of thermoplastics having transverse profile features this apparatus has a base 1 with a molding path 2 situated on it on this molding path 2 mold segments 3 are lined up each consisting of two mold segment halves 4 5 as long as the mold segment halves 4 5 are joined together by twos forming a mold segment 3 and as long as adjacent mold segments 3 are joined together forming a mold they move in a straight line corresponding to a direction of production 6 on the base 1 for the continuous drive of the mold formed by the mold segments 3 a lower driving pinion 8 is provided right behind an extrusion head 7 of an extruder the pinion 8 reaching through a recess 9 in the base 1 and engaging with an indentation 10 formed on the respective lower side of the mold segment halves 4 5 the lower driving pinion 8 is non rotatably mounted on a drive shaft 11 which is located underneath the base 1 and driven by a gear motor not shown the mold segment halves 4 5 are guided and kept together on the molding path 2 by guide rails 12 13 which engage with such portion of the mold segment halves 4 5 that is adjacent to the base 1 a counterpart bearing 14 is provided above the base 1 and above the mold it has a base plate 15 on which is supported an upper driving pinion 16 this upper driving.