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.
Answers to the questions we see most often from buyers across Australia.
A clicker press is a type of hydraulic press specifically designed for die cutting — punching shapes out of soft materials like leather, rubber, foam, and fabric using steel-rule or forged dies. A general hydraulic press is used for a broader range of tasks including forming, bending, pressing bearings, and assembly work. Clicker presses have a flat cutting beam or swing arm that delivers force evenly across the die, whereas general hydraulic presses typically have a single ram that applies force at a central point.
For most leather die cutting work, a 10–20 tonne swing arm clicker press is sufficient. The exact requirement depends on the die perimeter and leather thickness. As a rough calculation: multiply the die perimeter in mm by 0.3–0.5 N/mm (typical cutting resistance for 3–4mm vegetable-tanned leather), divide by 1,000 for kilonewtons, then divide by 9.81 for tonnes. A 15-tonne press handles most standard leather goods dies comfortably. Buy 20–30% above your calculated requirement for a safety margin.
Yes, a used clicker press can be excellent value — particularly older ATOM, Comelz, or Teseo machines, which are built to last decades. The key risks are worn hydraulic seals, damaged cutting beams, and safety systems that don't meet current Australian standards. Before buying used, inspect the cutting beam for flatness, check the hydraulic system for leaks and pressure consistency, test the two-hand safety controls, and verify the cutting pad condition. Budget $500–$1,500 for a safety inspection and any required upgrades. A well-maintained used ATOM swing arm can outlast a cheap new import.
A two-hand anti-tie-down control requires the operator to press and hold two separate buttons simultaneously to initiate each press stroke. Anti-tie-down circuitry ensures both buttons must be fully released and re-pressed for every stroke — you cannot tape one button down and operate with one hand. In Australia, two-hand controls are required under the Work Health and Safety Act for operator-fed presses where hands could enter the danger zone. Non-compliant machines can result in serious injury, WorkSafe investigations, and significant legal liability. Always verify compliance documentation before purchasing.
A swing arm clicker press has a hydraulic arm that pivots out to the side to allow die placement, then swings back over the cutting pad to press. The cutting area is typically 600–900mm wide. A beam press has a fixed beam that spans the full width of the cutting table, allowing the operator to position dies anywhere across the full table width. Beam presses are better for high-volume production and large dies. Swing arm presses are more common in small-to-medium workshops due to their lower cost and smaller footprint.
Cutting pad replacement frequency depends on press tonnage, die sharpness, and material being cut. In a typical leather goods workshop running 6–8 hours per day, a cutting pad might last 3–6 months before it needs rotating or replacing. Signs of a worn pad include inconsistent cut quality, the die not cutting cleanly through the material, and visible grooving or hardening of the pad surface. Self-healing polyethylene pads last longer than older nylon pads. TexonOz and other Australian suppliers stock replacement pads in standard sizes.
Yes — clicker presses are widely used for cutting rubber gaskets, seals, and washers. The key consideration is die type: for rubber, you typically need a sharp steel-rule die with a tight tolerance to get a clean edge. Rubber requires more cutting force per mm of die perimeter than leather, so size your press accordingly. For thick rubber (over 10mm), a beam press is generally preferable to a swing arm as it delivers more consistent force across the full die. See the Rubber & Gaskets industry page for more specific guidance.
Most workshop hydraulic and clicker presses in the 10–30 tonne range run on single-phase 240V power, which is standard in Australian workshops. Larger presses (50 tonnes and above) typically require three-phase 415V power. Pneumatic presses require a compressed air supply — typically 6–8 bar at 100–200 litres per minute depending on press size. Always confirm the power requirements with the supplier before purchasing, and factor in any electrical or compressed air infrastructure costs.
ATOM (Italian) is the most widely supported brand in Australia, with TexonOz in Campbellfield, VIC as the primary distributor and service agent. Lucris manufactures clicker presses in Australia (Melbourne) and provides local service. Comelz and Teseo machines are present in the market but have more limited local support. For hydraulic presses, PJM Industrial manufactures in Australia. Chinese-manufactured presses are available at lower price points but spare parts and service support can be inconsistent — verify before purchasing.
Check the hydraulic system for leaks around the cylinder, hoses, and fittings. Test the pressure at full rated tonnage using a calibrated gauge — a press that can't reach rated pressure has a worn pump or internal leaks. Inspect the ram and guides for wear and side-play. Check the bed and ram faces for flatness. Verify that all safety systems (emergency stop, guards, two-hand controls if applicable) are functional. On older machines, check the condition of hydraulic hoses — rubber hoses degrade over time and should be replaced if cracked or swollen. Budget for a hydraulic fluid change and new seals as a minimum.
For die cutting: multiply the total die perimeter (mm) by the material cutting resistance (N/mm) — typically 0.3–0.5 for leather, 0.5–0.8 for rubber, 0.1–0.2 for foam. Divide by 1,000 for kN, then divide by 9.81 for tonnes. Add 20–30% safety margin. For hydraulic forming: the calculation depends on material, thickness, and operation type — consult with a tooling supplier. For assembly pressing (bearing installation, etc.): the required force is typically specified by the component manufacturer. The interactive tonnage calculator on our Hydraulic Press Tonnage Guide page can help with die cutting calculations.
Lead times vary significantly by brand and supplier. Lucris (Australian-made) typically has stock on hand or short lead times of 2–6 weeks. ATOM machines through TexonOz may have 8–16 week lead times depending on the model and current stock. Chinese-manufactured presses can sometimes be sourced faster from local importers but quality varies. If you need a machine urgently, the used market is worth exploring — a well-maintained used ATOM or Lucris press is often available within 1–2 weeks.