CLICKER
PRESSES
What Is a Clicker Press?
A clicker press — also called a clicking press or die cutting press — is a machine that uses a shaped steel-rule die to cut precise shapes from soft to semi-rigid materials. The name comes from the audible click the machine makes as the die cuts through the material and the press retracts.
The first clicking press was used in the footwear industry in the 19th century, where it replaced hand-cutting of leather uppers. The technology has since expanded to cover an enormous range of materials and industries. Today, clicker presses are found in workshops and factories across Australia cutting everything from leather dog collars to industrial rubber gaskets.
The core advantage of a clicker press over manual cutting is speed, consistency, and repeatability. Once a die is made, the same shape can be cut thousands of times with minimal variation. This makes clicker presses particularly well suited to production environments where identical parts are needed at volume.
How a Clicker Press Works
The operating principle is straightforward. A sheet or hide of material is placed on the cutting bed, which is covered with a durable self-healing cutting pad — typically made from high-density polyethylene or similar materials. The steel-rule die is positioned on top of the material in the desired location.
The operator activates the press using two-hand safety controls. The cutting head descends with controlled hydraulic force, pressing the die cleanly through the material. The head then retracts automatically. The cut piece is removed and the process repeats.
On a swing arm press, the cutting head swings away from the cutting area between strokes, giving the operator full access to position the die and material. On a beam press, the head travels straight up and down across the full width of the cutting bed.
Types of Clicker Press
Swing Arm Clicker Press
5–30 tonnesBest For: Leather goods, footwear, small gaskets, craft production
- +Compact footprint
- +Easy die alignment on irregular material
- +Lower cost entry point
- +Good visibility of cutting area
- –Smaller cutting area per stroke
- –Head size limits die dimensions
- –Slower on high-volume runs
Beam (Swing Beam) Press
10–50 tonnesBest For: Foam, rubber, large gaskets, automotive trim, textiles
- +Larger cutting area
- +Higher production throughput
- +Can use multiple dies simultaneously
- +Consistent pressure across full beam
- –Larger footprint
- –Higher purchase cost
- –Less flexible for irregular material shapes
Travelling Head Press
20–100+ tonnesBest For: High-volume industrial production, roll-fed materials
- +Automated material feed options
- +Very high throughput
- +Consistent cut quality across large sheets
- –Significant capital investment
- –Requires more floor space
- –Complex setup and tooling
Industries Using Clicker Presses in Australia
| Industry | Typical Applications |
|---|---|
| Leather Goods | Wallets, belts, bags, saddlery, dog collars, watch straps |
| Footwear | Uppers, insoles, outsoles, straps, heel counters |
| Gaskets & Seals | Rubber, cork, PTFE, non-asbestos fibre gaskets for industrial use |
| Foam & Packaging | Protective foam inserts, acoustic panels, custom packaging shapes |
| Automotive | Interior trim, carpet, insulation, headliner components |
| Textiles & Apparel | Fabric patterns, patches, labels, technical textile components |
| Medical | Medical-grade foam, fabric components, disposable device parts |
| Signage & Print | Vinyl shapes, foam board, card stock, promotional materials |
What to Look For When Buying
Tonnage is the most critical specification. It needs to be sufficient to cut cleanly through your thickest, densest material. As a rough guide, cutting 3mm leather typically requires around 8–10 tonnes; cutting 10mm rubber gasket material may require 20–30 tonnes or more, depending on the die perimeter length.
Head size on a swing arm press determines the maximum die you can use. If you need to cut large shapes, you either need a large-head swing arm press or a beam press. For most leather and small gasket work, a 250mm × 300mm head is adequate.
Safety compliance is non-negotiable. Australian workplaces are governed by WHS legislation, and any press machine must meet relevant safety standards. Look for dual-button anti-tie-down controls, emergency stops, and guarding. Reputable suppliers will provide compliance documentation.
Brand and support matters more than it might seem. A press that breaks down and can't be serviced locally is a significant problem. Brands with established Australian distribution — such as ATOM (distributed by TexonOz in Victoria) and locally manufactured options like Lucris — offer better long-term support.