Buying a press machine is a significant investment, and the wrong choice can cost you in productivity, quality, and maintenance. The good news is that if you define your requirements clearly, the right machine usually becomes obvious.
This guide walks through the key decisions — from material and force requirements through to budget, safety, and ongoing support. It applies to all press types covered on this site: clicker presses, hydraulic presses, pneumatic presses, and fly presses.
Soft materials (leather, foam, rubber, fabric) → Clicker press. Hard materials (steel, aluminium) → Hydraulic or mechanical press. Sheet metal forming → Hydraulic press. Mixed assembly operations → Pneumatic or hydraulic press.
Under 5 tonnes → Pneumatic or manual clicker. 5–30 tonnes → Swing arm clicker or C-frame hydraulic. 30–100 tonnes → Beam clicker or H-frame hydraulic. 100+ tonnes → Industrial hydraulic or mechanical press.
Low volume / prototyping → Manual or small pneumatic press. Medium volume → Swing arm clicker or C-frame hydraulic. High volume / production line → Beam press or automated hydraulic system.
Bench-top only → Manual clicker, small pneumatic, or arbor press. Small workshop → Swing arm clicker or C-frame hydraulic. Larger facility → Beam press, H-frame hydraulic, or travelling head press.
Yes → Pneumatic press is viable. No → Hydraulic or manual press. If air is available but force needs are high → Consider air-over-oil (hydra-pneumatic) press.
Tonnage is the maximum force the press can deliver. For die cutting, the required force depends on the material's cutting resistance and the total perimeter length of the die. A longer die perimeter requires more force.
As a rough guide for clicker press work: multiply the die perimeter (in mm) by the material's cutting resistance (in N/mm). Divide by 1,000 to get kilonewtons, then divide by 9.81 to get tonnes. For most leather and foam work, this results in requirements of 5–20 tonnes for typical die sizes.
It is generally advisable to buy a press with 20–30% more capacity than your calculated requirement. This provides a safety margin, extends the press's service life, and gives you flexibility if your production needs change.
For hydraulic forming work, tonnage requirements depend on the material, the forming operation, and the tooling geometry. Consult with a tooling supplier or press manufacturer for specific calculations.
Important: All press machines used in Australian workplaces must comply with the Work Health and Safety Act and relevant Australian Standards. Non-compliant machines can result in serious injury and significant legal liability. Always verify compliance before purchasing.
The key safety requirement for operator-fed presses is two-hand anti-tie-down controls. These require the operator to press and hold two buttons simultaneously to initiate the press stroke, preventing the operator's hands from being in the danger zone. Anti-tie-down circuitry ensures both buttons must be released and re-pressed for each stroke.
Other safety requirements include emergency stop buttons, guarding of moving parts, and clear visibility of the cutting area. Reputable press suppliers will provide compliance documentation and can advise on any additional guarding requirements for your specific application.
If you are purchasing a used press, have it inspected and certified by a qualified safety engineer before putting it into service. Safety systems on older machines may not meet current standards and may require upgrading.
Prices are indicative only and vary significantly by brand, specification, condition (new vs. used), and supplier. All prices in Australian dollars.
| Machine Type | Price Range (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Clicker Press (hand-operated) | $1,500 – $5,000 | Entry-level. Good for low-volume leather and craft work. |
| Swing Arm Clicker Press (hydraulic, 10–15T) | $8,000 – $20,000 | Most common workshop clicker. New from reputable brands. |
| Beam Clicker Press (hydraulic, 20–50T) | $20,000 – $60,000 | Higher volume production. Larger footprint. |
| Workshop Hydraulic Press (12–50T) | $800 – $8,000 | Bottle-jack style shop press. Wide range of quality. |
| C-Frame Hydraulic Press (10–50T) | $5,000 – $30,000 | Versatile workshop press for assembly and forming. |
| H-Frame Hydraulic Press (50–200T) | $15,000 – $100,000+ | Industrial forming and stamping. |
| Fly Press (No. 2–5) | $500 – $3,000 (used) | Excellent value used. Simple, durable, no running costs. |
| Pneumatic Press (up to 5T) | $2,000 – $15,000 | Fast cycle times. Requires compressed air supply. |
A press machine that cannot be serviced locally is a liability. Before purchasing, confirm that the supplier or brand has service capability in Australia — either through their own technicians or through a network of authorised service agents.
Spare parts availability is equally important. For hydraulic presses, seals, cylinders, and hydraulic components need to be serviceable. For clicker presses, cutting pads need regular replacement and should be readily available locally.
Brands with established Australian distribution generally offer better local support than grey-market imports. For ATOM clicker presses, TexonOz (Campbellfield, VIC) is the primary Australian distributor and has been supplying ATOM machinery and spare parts since 1899. For hydraulic presses, PJM Industrial manufactures locally. Lucris manufactures clicker presses in Australia.