The invention relates to a method and a press (1) for producing a tampon preform (2&prime) by radially pressing a tampon blank (2) made of an absorbent material by means of compression jaws (3) which are arranged around a pressing region, characterized in that the press (1) comprises guide blades (4, 4&prime, 4&Prime) for centering the tampon blank (2) in the radial and/or axial direction in the pressing region.
