New & Used Presses For Sale

Find new and used industrial presses for sale with The Commercial Trader. Whether you’re forming sheet metal parts, compacting waste for recycling, pressing pharmaceutical tablets, briquetting biomass for fuel, or stamping precision components, we connect you directly with trusted UK and European sellers offering presses across every major technology.

Browse new and used industrial presses across every format.

Each listing comes from verified sellers with detailed specifications and service history available where applicable. Need help specifying a press for your application? Get in touch via our contact page for guidance, or browse the related categories below.

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What is an industrial press?

An industrial press is a piece of process equipment that applies controlled force to compress, form, cut, stamp or extrude material. Presses span an enormous range, from sub-tonne laboratory tablet presses producing pharmaceutical doses through to multi-thousand-tonne forging presses shaping aerospace components. Industrial presses are typically specified by tonnage (the maximum force they can exert), stroke length, bed dimensions, daylight (the open distance between platens) and drive type, with selection driven by the material being processed and the operation being performed.

How long do industrial presses last?

Quality industrial presses routinely operate for 30-50+ years. The main frame castings and structural components last decades, often outliving multiple owners. Hydraulic seals, bearings, drive systems and electrical controls are routine maintenance items, with periodic overhaul restoring presses to as-new performance. Many presses still in production today were built in the 1970s and 1980s.

Why choose an industrial press?

Presses underpin manufacturing, recycling, pharmaceutical production and bulk materials handling across virtually every sector.

  • Precise force control: modern presses deliver controlled tonnage with high repeatability, supporting tight quality tolerances on stamped, formed and pressed parts.
  • Wide application range: presses serve metal forming, plastics moulding, rubber compression, tablet manufacture, baling, briquetting and densification across virtually every industry.
  • Productivity at scale: high-speed mechanical presses can deliver 200-1,000+ strokes per minute on stamping and progressive die work.
  • Energy and yield optimisation: modern servo-electric presses cut energy consumption by 50-70% versus older hydraulic units while delivering precise motion control.
  • Robust construction: press frames, beds and rams are designed for very long working lives, making them excellent capital investments.

Why buy a used industrial press?

Industrial presses are exceptional candidates for second-hand purchase because the main castings and structural components are designed for decades of service.

  • Major capital savings: used industrial presses typically cost 40-60% less than new equivalents, with significant savings on larger production-scale machines.
  • Immediate availability: new presses can have lead times of 9-18 months. Used stock is often available within weeks.
  • Refurbishment-friendly: hydraulic system overhaul, control upgrades and electrical retrofits return used presses to effectively-new condition.
  • Proven track record: presses with documented production history give clear evidence of duty cycles, accuracy and reliability.
  • Strong UK aftermarket: established brands have UK service support, with refurbishment specialists offering control retrofits, hydraulic rebuilds and structural restoration.

Types of industrial presses for sale

Hydraulic presses

Hydraulic presses use pressurised fluid to drive the ram, delivering high tonnage with controllable force throughout the stroke. Tonnages range from sub-10 tonnes for laboratory work up to 50,000+ tonnes for aerospace and heavy forging. Common applications include deep drawing, forming, transfer pressing, die cutting, rubber moulding and compression moulding. Manufacturers include Schuler, Bliss, Macrodyne, French, Wickert, Lasco and many UK and European specialist builders.

Mechanical presses

Mechanical presses use flywheels, eccentric drives or knuckle joints to deliver fast, repeatable strokes for stamping, blanking, piercing and progressive die work. Speeds range from 30 strokes per minute on heavy-duty work up to 1,000+ SPM on small precision parts. Schuler, Bruderer, AIDA, Komatsu, Sutherland and many specialist UK builders are common in this category.

Tablet presses

Pharmaceutical tablet presses (also called rotary tablet presses) compress powder formulations into tablets at speeds from a few hundred up to 1,000,000+ tablets per hour. Manufacturers include Fette Compacting, Korsch, Romaco Kilian, IMA, Manesty, GEA and Natoli. GMP-compliant design with full validation and electropolished contact parts is standard.

Briquetting and densification presses

Briquetting presses compress sawdust, biomass, metal swarf, plastic regrind and other waste streams into compact briquettes for fuel use, transport efficiency or recycling feedstock. Hydraulic and mechanical screw designs serve different feedstock characteristics. Manufacturers include RUF, C.F. Nielsen, Pini Kay and many UK-based specialists.

Baling presses

Baling presses compress paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles and other recyclable materials into transportable bales. Vertical and horizontal designs serve different waste volumes, with auto-tie and channel baler configurations supporting high-volume MRF and recycling operations. Common in waste management, retail and warehouse waste handling.

Forming and stamping presses

Sheet metal forming presses, progressive die presses, transfer presses and servo-driven stamping lines support automotive, appliance, electrical and general manufacturing. Modern servo-electric presses offer programmable motion profiles for complex forming operations.

Key features to consider when buying an industrial press

  • Tonnage rating: specify the maximum force needed for your application with sensible margin. Under-specifying causes part defects; over-specifying wastes capital and energy.
  • Stroke length and daylight: must match your tooling and component dimensions. Adequate daylight is essential for transfer pressing and large parts.
  • Bed dimensions: front-to-back and left-to-right bed sizes must accommodate your dies plus any feeding, ejection and scrap removal systems.
  • Drive type: hydraulic for high tonnage and force control; mechanical for high speed and repeatability; servo-electric for energy efficiency and programmable motion.
  • Control system: modern PLC-based controls with HMI offer programmability and data logging. Older relay-based controls may need retrofit for production reliability.
  • Safety systems: two-hand controls, light curtains, safety scanners and emergency stops are essential. Verify safety category compliance (ISO 13849, BS EN 692/693).
  • PUWER and PSSR compliance: presses are work equipment under PUWER, requiring inspection and competent maintenance. Hydraulic systems may need PSSR examination.

Industries and use cases for industrial presses

  • Automotive and aerospace: stamping, forming, deep drawing and trimming of body panels, structural components and aerospace parts.
  • General manufacturing: stamping, blanking, piercing, forming and assembly across appliances, electrical components, hardware and industrial products.
  • Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical: tablet manufacturing for prescription medicines, OTC products, vitamins and animal health products.
  • Recycling and waste management: baling of cardboard, paper, plastics and metals; briquetting of biomass and metal swarf for transport and reuse.
  • Plastics and rubber: compression moulding, transfer moulding and rubber goods manufacturing.
  • Powder metallurgy and ceramics: compacting of powder metal parts, technical ceramics and refractory components.

What locations do we serve for industrial presses?

As a buyer-to-seller marketplace, we feature industrial presses from sellers across the UK and beyond. Use our location and distance filters to find equipment near your facility, supporting site visits and reducing transport costs on heavy press installations.

Can I return an industrial press?

As we operate as a buyer-to-seller marketplace, any returns policy must be agreed directly with the seller before purchase. We’d recommend pre-purchase inspection wherever possible, including assessment of frame condition, hydraulic operation, drive function, control system status and safety system compliance.

Browse other industrial machinery categories

This category forms one part of our wider industrial machinery marketplace. Browse the full range of New and Used Industrial Machinery, or jump into a specific sub-category below:

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