An apparatus for making dust or sediment, such as metal grinding sludge, into briquettes, the apparatus having a charging apparatus with a container for loading the material to be pressed. A charging screw is disposed in the container. The charging screw is driven by a screw driving means and forces the material to be pressed out via a container opening. In addition, there is a briquette press, which has a shaping chamber, in which a press ram is displaceable and which has a supply opening to the inlet of the material to be pressed, which is forced out of the container opening, and a closure slide apparatus for closing and opening the end of the shaping chamber. The charging apparatus is in the form of an independent module and is attachable to the briquette press and is thus easily interchangeable.