A method and apparatus for producing rubber mixtures in two stages, namely a master-batching stage and a final mixing stage, with the maximum temperature during final mixing being less than the maximum temperature during master batching. In order to reduce the overall mixing time, and in order to simplify the mixing apparatus, the material that is to be mixed is passed successively through a master batcher and then a final mixer. The material that is to be mixed is transferred or conveyed from the master batcher to the final mixer via the force of gravity without intermediate storage thereof. After the master batching, the material that is to be mixed is cooled in the final mixer. During cooling and final mixing of a first charge in the final mixer, master batching of a subsequent charge is already effected in the master batcher. The master batcher and the final mixer are expediently combined in such a way that the master batcher is a ram kneader, and the final mixer is a ram-less kneader.
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