Used 4-Post Hydraulic Presses for Sale • Four Column Press Design

Used 4-Post Hydraulic Presses in Stock

A 4-post hydraulic press, also called a four column or four pillar press, guides its moving platen on four round posts, one at each corner of the bed. That design spreads the load evenly, keeps the platen parallel to the bed, and leaves the press open on all four sides for loading large parts and tooling. We keep more than 200 used 4-post presses in stock, all owned and warehoused by us in Jackson, Michigan or Columbia, Tennessee, so you can ask for a video or schedule an in-person inspection with your salesperson before you buy.

Wabash is the name we carry most, along with PHI, Dake, Carver, TMP, Greenerd, Accudyne, Beckwood and St. Lawrence. Sizes run from bench-top lab presses of a few tons to 1,000+ ton presses with platens several feet across.

4-Post vs. Other Hydraulic Press Frames

What 4-Post Presses Are Used For

• Compression molding of rubber, SMC, composites and plastics.
• Heated platen laminating, curing and bonding.
• Transfer molding of rubber and thermoset parts.
• Deep drawing and hydraulic forming of sheet metal, where full tonnage is needed through a long stroke.
• Trimming die castings and forgings, and die cutting soft materials.
• Laboratory and R&D testing on small up-acting presses.

Up-Acting or Down-Acting?

On a down-acting 4-post press the cylinder sits on top and drives the platen down onto a fixed bed, the most common layout for forming and trimming. On an up-acting press the cylinder sits underneath and raises the bottom platen to a fixed top, so the loading height never changes. Up-acting is popular for molding, laminating and lab presses.

What to Check on a Used 4-Post Press

• Daylight and stroke. Daylight is the maximum opening between the platen and the bed; stroke is how far the platen travels. Both must fit your tooling plus room to load and unload.
• Bed size and window. Check the usable bed and the clear space between the posts, front to back and left to right.
• Posts and bushings. Look for scoring and play, which affect platen parallelism.
• Cylinder and hydraulics. Leaks, drift under pressure, pump condition and motor horsepower.
• Heated platens. Temperature range, number of zones, and whether the platens are cooled.
• Controls and guarding. PLC or relay controls, pressure and position settings, light curtains.

4-Post Hydraulic Press FAQ

What is a 4-post hydraulic press?

A hydraulic press whose moving platen is guided by four round posts (columns) at the corners of the bed, giving even pressure across a large working area and access from every side.

Is a 4-column press the same as a 4-post press?

Yes. Four post, four column and four pillar all describe the same frame design.

What is daylight on a hydraulic press?

Daylight is the largest open height between the moving platen and the bed when the press is fully open. It limits how tall your tooling and parts can be.

What tonnage 4-post press do I need?

For molding, multiply the part's projected area in square inches by the molding pressure in psi, then divide by 2,000 to get tons. For forming and trimming, ask us and we'll help size it from your part and material.

Can I see a press run before I buy?

Ask for a video, or schedule an in-person inspection with your salesperson at our Jackson, Michigan or Columbia, Tennessee warehouse.

Do you buy used 4-post presses?

Yes. We buy single presses, press lines and complete plants. See sell your machinery or send us photos and the nameplate.

Inventory changes every week, and some presses arrive before they are listed. If you don't see the 4-post press you need, contact us with your tonnage, bed size, daylight and stroke.