One embodiment of the present invention includes an assembly for stripping a medium from a mold cavity. The assembly may include at least one stripper shoe, a head structure, and a flexible plunger connecting the head structure and the at least one stripper shoe. The flexible plunger may include cutouts or openings along the length of the plunger to induce increased flexibility. The flexible plunger may include a first bending stiffness at one end of the plunger and a second bending stiffness the opposite end of the plunger. The cutouts may be configured such that the second bending stiffness is substantially less than the first bending stiffness. By increasing the flexibility of the plungers, the usable life of the assembly may be prolonged while maintaining product quality.