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Electric actuators for presses and assembly

Specify an electric press actuator from force, speed, duty and installation constraints. Compare screw technologies and motor-drive requirements.

UK engineering team · Product sourcing · Supply support

Get the right products, pricing and supply support

Send your part number or describe what the machine needs to do. We connect your requirement with experienced UK engineering and procurement support to help you get the right products, pricing and supply options. Your matched provider can take the enquiry through quotation and ordering to delivery and after-sales support.

  • Source original parts or assess suitable alternatives
  • Get pricing, lead times and a defined supply proposal
  • One enquiry for components, complete axes and ongoing support

No obligation to buy. Choose the quick form below or use the full configurator on this page. Add what you know; an engineer can help with the details.

Need help choosing? Build a specification →
Add quantity, timing or application notes (optional)

Spec builder

Build your specification

Select the products and performance you need. Our UK engineering team can use your specification to help source the right components, pricing and supply options. See your summary before adding contact details.

Already know the part number? Use the quick enquiry form. You can configure a requirement below without registering.

  1. 1Products
  2. 2Performance
  3. 3Environment
  4. 4Volumes
  5. 5Your spec
Step 1 of 5

What are you specifying?

Select everything you need. A motor, drive and gearbox can be specified together as one axis.

3 selected: Linear actuator, Servo or stepper motor, Servo drive
Specify Motion technical library · Updated · How we prepare our content

In short:An electric press needs a force-versus-position and time description. Peak thrust alone does not size the actuator, motor, structure or control system.

Describe the complete pressing cycle

Pressing, insertion, riveting and joining can combine a fast approach, a short high-force working stroke and a return. Record the force required through the travel, the speed during each stage and the time spent holding force. Identify whether force, position or both must be controlled and logged.

A high catalogue thrust is not a promise that the actuator can generate that force at maximum speed continuously. Mechanical life, motor heating, screw speed and lubrication all need checking for the actual cycle. The supporting frame and tooling also affect measured displacement and repeatability.

Compare the mechanism against the duty

Ball-screw and roller-screw actuators offer different combinations of capacity, life and cost. Selection should consider equivalent load over the cycle, working stroke, mounting, environment and service access. A stronger actuator is not automatically the right answer if the underlying problem is side loading or a poorly supported tool.

Ask how the process force is measured. Motor current can inform an estimate, but friction and transmission efficiency affect the relationship. Where process acceptance depends on force, discuss a suitable force-measurement and validation approach with the system designer.

Illustrative power check

For a hypothetical process requiring 5,000 N at 20 mm/s, mechanical output power at that operating point is 100 W: force multiplied by speed in metres per second. That is not a 100 W motor recommendation. Screw and gearbox losses, acceleration, peak duty and holding conditions remain to be included.

The actuator force and screw torque calculator helps make these assumptions visible. It does not calculate actuator life, buckling or machine safety.

Installation and scope of supply

Identify the mounting orientation, permissible envelope, rod end, guidance and external moments. A vertical or backdrivable mechanism may need a defined holding strategy. Guards, stopping behaviour and safety functions belong to the assessed machine design, not an assumption based on the actuator’s nominal rating.

For a hydraulic replacement, send the cylinder dimensions, pressure, stroke, cycle and reason for changing. Existing hydraulic-to-electric guidance covers the wider conversion questions. We can discuss an actuator, motor and drive quotation, with controls, sensors and integration responsibilities defined separately.

Product ranges to discuss

These are starting points from the catalogue, rather than a confirmed selection. Options within a series vary; an engineer must check the exact configuration.

Turn the requirement into an enquiry

Send the application, quantities and deadline, plus any existing model codes. We can discuss the original part, alternatives or a matched package. Compatibility, availability and supply arrangements are confirmed for the specific enquiry.

Request a review and quotation →

UK engineering input · A route to buying the right products

From your enquiry to products, delivery and support

Specify Motion helps turn a part number or application into a purchasing enquiry. We provide recommendations and connect your requirement with a relevant engineering or procurement provider for product selection, pricing, sourcing and supply.

  1. Tell us what you needSend a code or configure the application, quantities and timing.
  2. Reach a relevant providerAccess experienced UK engineering input and a suitable procurement route.
  3. Review the quotationYour provider confirms the products, price, compatibility checks and supply terms.
  4. Order with delivery and support agreedConfirm delivery, warranty and after-sales arrangements with the contracting provider.

You choose whether to proceed with the provider and should carry out your own checks. Website and introduction service terms.