How should the pressure head/die combination of the extruder be designed to prevent the internal stresses generated during the shaping of the ceramic body? Three prototypical examples—a highly perforated block, a stiff-extruded face brick and a ceramic honeycomb—are taken to demonstrate the difference in the design of pressure head/die combinations. Reference is made to conventional simulation methods as already adopted for the extrusion of plastics and which will be relevant in the future for ceramic extrusion.