There are many different types of presses used across many different shops, plants, and factories. Which press is best for you depends on your applications and needs. There are a few key differences between shop presses vs production presses. Understanding these differences and distinctions can help you choose the right press for your needs.
Shop Presses vs Production Presses
What’s the difference between shop presses and production presses? Before we explore these differences, it’s important to define what we mean by shop presses and production presses. Shop presses refer to presses used in auto repair garages, custom metalworking operations, or smaller fabrication shops. Production presses refer to presses used in larger manufacturing and assembly operations for parts or components such as automotive parts or parts for appliances. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at shop presses vs production presses.
Shop Presses
Shop presses are usually a type of H-frame or A-Frame hydraulic press. Often, these presses can be manually adjusted by raising or lowering the bed or adjusting a mobile or sliding cylinder to fit a part into the frame. The adjustable nature makes them versatile for different shop uses and ensures they are handy when working on smaller or larger parts alike. Shop presses can be manually actuated via a lever that’s pumped by the operator, or powered electronically and most commonly deliver between 10 and 50 pounds of force, or more at relatively low cycle speeds.
Shop Press Uses
Typically, these hydraulic H frame presses are used for installing or removing bushings, bearings, or pulleys to conduct repairs for cars, trucks, tractors, or similar vehicles. An H-frame hydraulic press might also be used in a home shop or smaller fabrication shop for various metalworking applications like stamping, riveting, punching, joining, and more.
The press must move reliably between different functions, but it typically won’t perform the same task repetitively or even numerous times a day – a shop press may be used only a handful of times each day or week. This means shop presses must work reliably for different applications, and hold up to moderate use, but don’t have to withstand heavy daily use.
The applications H-frame shop presses are built to perform typically do not require a high level of accuracy or precision. In many cases, the alignment may even be eyeballed, with the operator slowly pumping the press and adjusting the parts as needed before the application is complete. In general, shop presses have a slow cycle speed that’s largely dependent on the operator.
Shop Press Cost & Maintenance
These presses vary in price between about $1,000 to $5,000, depending on force and functionality. Many shops look for cost-savings for presses that won’t see frequent use, however, these presses are not ideal for larger shops where the press could be used any more than 5-10 times per day or precision and consistency are required for product quality.
Hydraulic shop presses will also require regular maintenance to ensure quality and useability. This will involve frequent checks to the machine’s oil levels and part lubrication as clean oil and lubricated parts are essential to smooth operation. The hydraulic oil should be sampled at least once a year and fully replaced if no longer clean, or more frequently if the press is not functioning as it should.
Production Presses
Now, let’s talk about production presses. There are many different types of presses used in manufacturing and assembly, and these presses typically perform one or two dedicated tasks repetitively. This means, when you’re looking to buy a production press, it’s helpful to invest in a press that is specifically designed for the operation. These presses will also need to be built with durability and long-lasting quality in mind for constant operation throughout the day.
Production Press Design
The components, design, engineering, and precision of these presses are generally superior compared to shop presses. Downtime in a factory can cost thousands of dollars a minute, and it’s important that production equipment stays online and running throughout the day, completing hundreds if not thousands of cycles on a regular basis.
Production Press Uses
Unlike shop press applications, production presses are often geared toward highly accurate, precise processes that need to be performed consistently for production quality. Additional features and technology, such as force and distance monitoring, are often used in production presses to improve accuracy, prevent defects, and monitor the machine’s performance and maintenance needs. Though there is some flexibility in choices between the functional design and add-ons, a major priority is to fit the force to your application.
Production Safety
In a fast-paced production environment, maximizing safety is critical. Whereas shop presses do not often have the ability to be fitted with safety controls, guarding or other modifications, it’s commonplace to include these elements in production press design to minimize risk and ensure safety of the press operators and other floor workers. Safety features used with production presses often include two-hand touch controls, guarding, light curtains, and other safety sensors and switches, depending on the press type and production process.
Production Press Types
When people think of factory presses, the type that often comes to mind is a hydraulic production press. Yet, while there are certainly times when a full hydraulic press is required, there are also plenty of applications in manufacturing and assembly where a different type of factory press can offer better speed, performance and higher return on investment than hydraulic presses.
Alternatives to Hydraulic Presses for Production
In many cases, pneumatic presses or hydropneumatic presses are cost-effective alternatives to hydraulic presses. These types of presses are generally more energy-efficient, require less maintenance, operate with less noise, and don’t require a high-voltage power supply, while also offering comparable levels of force. A pneumatic press can provide up to 5,000 lbs of force, while hydropneumatic presses can offer up to 50 tons of force. Hydraulic alternatives operate reliably and can accomplish a wide range of different tasks.
Whether you have a small shop and you’re looking for something to handle larger jobs when they come up, or you have a larger production facility you’re looking to outfit with a quality press that can handle 24/7 operation, under-spending or overspending can both be a costly move. If you’re unsure which type of press is ideal for your needs, contact us. Tell us about your applications, anticipated growth, challenges, and budget and we can help you find or custom design the perfect press to exceed your expectations.