A hot box of a hot-forming press, the hot box comprising: a lower hot-box portion, comprising: a lower housing; a lower heating plate, received within the lower housing and configured to support a lower die; and a lower insulation layer, positioned between the lower housing and the lower heating plate; and an upper hot-box portion, positionable above the lower hot-box portion and comprising: an upper housing; an upper heating plate, received within the upper housing and configured to support an upper die; and an upper insulation layer, positioned between the upper housing and the upper heating plate; and wherein: the lower hot-box portion and the upper hot-box portion provide a thermal barrier therebetween when the lower hot-box portion and the upper hot-box portion are in contact with each other; the lower housing comprises a lower base plate and lower side walls, positioned above the lower base plate; the lower base plate, the lower insulation layer, and the lower heating plate collectively define lower bolt passages; the lower hot-box portion further comprises lower bolts, extending through the lower bolt passages, and spring-loaded lower nut assemblies, operatively coupled to the lower bolts and configured to permit the lower hot-box portion to expand and contract without damage to the lower hot-box portion; and the spring-loaded lower nut assemblies are positioned within the lower base plate. a lower hot-box portion, comprising: a lower housing; a lower heating plate, received within the lower housing and configured to support a lower die; and a lower insulation layer, positioned between the lower housing and the lower heating plate; and a lower housing; a lower heating plate, received within the lower housing and configured to support a lower die; and a lower insulation layer, positioned between the lower housing and the lower heating plate; and an upper hot-box portion, positionable above the lower hot-box portion and comprising: an upper housing; an upper heating plate, received within the upper housing and configured to support an upper die; and an upper insulation layer, positioned between the upper housing and the upper heating plate; and an upper housing; an upper heating plate, received within the upper housing and configured to support an upper die; and an upper insulation layer, positioned between the upper housing and the upper heating plate; and wherein: the lower hot-box portion and the upper hot-box portion provide a thermal barrier therebetween when the lower hot-box portion and the upper hot-box portion are in contact with each other; the lower housing comprises a lower base plate and lower side walls, positioned above the lower base plate; the lower base plate, the lower insulation layer, and the lower heating plate collectively define lower bolt passages; the lower hot-box portion further comprises lower bolts, extending through the lower bolt passages, and spring-loaded lower nut assemblies, operatively coupled to the lower bolts and configured to permit the lower hot-box portion to expand and contract without damage to the lower hot-box portion; and the spring-loaded lower nut assemblies are positioned within the lower base plate. the lower hot-box portion and the upper hot-box portion provide a thermal barrier therebetween when the lower hot-box portion and the upper hot-box portion are in contact with each other; the lower housing comprises a lower base plate and lower side walls, positioned above the lower base plate; the lower base plate, the lower insulation layer, and the lower heating plate collectively define lower bolt passages; the lower hot-box portion further comprises lower bolts, extending through the lower bolt passages, and spring-loaded lower nut assemblies, operatively coupled to the lower bolts and configured to permit the lower hot-box portion to expand and contract without damage to the lower hot-box portion; and the spring-loaded lower nut assemblies are positioned within the lower base plate.