Purchasing a used stamping press can offer value for money and a greater range of products to chose from when compared with the market for new presses. However, the increased variety of stamping presses on the used equipment market can make the purchase decision more challenging.
Factors such as machinery age and running hours, not applicable on a new machine purchase, add to the complexity already inherent in a stamping press purchase. To begin, detail your requirements - final product dimensions, weight etc. - and match these to specifications for your stamping press, including:
- Tonnage rating - most fall in the 40 - 1000 ton range, not to be confused with energy generated by flywheel or equipment weight
- Dimension of bed/table
- RPM (revolutions per minute)
- SPM (strokes per minute)
- Drive power
- Slide stroke
The variety of
used stamping presses available is also increased due to customization and supplementary components which are often present in used machines. These deviations from the original manufacturer's specification can often be omitted from a used equipment description and have a profound impact on press performance. The following questions cover some examples where stamping press customization should be investigated prior to purchase:
- Is a die holder/cushion included?
- Is an automatic lubrication system included?
- Are all electrical controls in working order?
- What is the weight of the press?
- What are the dimensions of the press?
Having established a comprehensive set of requirements and matched these to the specifications of a used stamping press, it is important to verify the information provided in a production demo. This is ideally performed in person, but in the case of international purchases many buyers rely on a video of the machine in operation.