Press Tooling

Cost effective, efficient and accurate tools for large scale production

We are a leading UK manufacturer of press tooling, boasting a highly-experienced team, designing, producing and building bespoke press tooling, press tools provide an efficient and cost effect process used in manufacturing industries such as automotive and aerospace.

Used to shape and form sheet metal or other materials into components or products, press tooling is suited to high-volume production, as it allows for rapid and consistent manufacturing of complex parts with tight tolerances.
Our press tool design team have decades of experience, always taking into consideration factors including material properties, part geometry, and production requirements during the press tooling design process.

Our skilled toolmakers, manufacture and build press tools to the highest standard to ensure the most efficient, reliable and accurate component production.

Press Tooling Benefits

Efficient high-speed production
High-volume manufacturing and reduced production time
Precise and accurate
Cost-effective – produce a large number of parts at a relatively low cost per unit.
Versatile – create a wide range of complex shapes and features
Consistent and high quality: Consistent part quality ensured throughout production process..
Automation Integration into automated production lines

Single-stage press tooling

Single-stage press tooling is primarily used for sheet metal forming, where a component can be produced in a single stroke of the press.

Tools are designed to shape the material without the need for intermediate steps or multiple tooling stages, producing high volumes of parts with consistent quality and precision.

This can include blanking operations, where the complex outer profile of a component is cut from a piece of sheet material, piercing operations, where holes or other features are created in the sheet metal, bending operations, such as forming straight bends or drawing operations where complex forms are created.

Progression Press Tooling

Progression press tools enable the production of more complex parts or components through a sequential progression of operations.

After the first operation is completed, the press advances the material to the next station, where the subsequent operation is performed, and so on, ensuring precise alignment and positioning, and consistent and accurate results.

The part or component is gradually shaped and modified by the progression press tool, with operations including cutting, forming, embossing, and any other processes based on the desired part design.

Robot feeding press tooling

The team at Paragon Toolmaking is highly-experienced in the design and build of press tooling to meet the specific demands of modern facilities and processes, which often include highly-sophisticated robotic manufacturing processes.

Robotics are used to handle pick up, handle and position materials, ensuring it is precisely placed during press operation, and remove the finished part, ensuring it is not damaged at any stage.

It is vital for toolmakers to have a clear understanding of the manufacturing process, materials when automating the material handling and feeding process, and it is an area of work our team at Paragon Toolmaking has become renowned for.

Transfer arm press tooling

Our team is experienced in the design and build of transfer arm press tooling, used when components need to be moved between different stations of a tool during the manufacturing process, each station adds feature to the component until the final shape is acheived.

Many considerations need to be taken when designing such tools, including the capability of the transfer arms, the pickup and drop off position of the components, part location and part ejection to ensure the transfer arms can handle, grip, move and control the part as required, with precision.

Our toolmakers are able to design and build tools to meet the specific requirements of clients with regards to the automation and control systems used within their own manufacturing processes, ensuing seamless integration into their factory operations, building tools with ease of maintenance and serviceability at front of mind.

How we work

With more than 50 years’ experience to call upon, we’re proud to have fine-tuned our tool-making process.

Concept Analysis

Every successful project starts with a clear brief. Once it’s fully understood by our toolmaking experts, we analyse the form and function. From this we develop the initial tooling concept ready to allow us to address every critical feature.

Design & Modelling

After agreeing any adjustments or modifications, we begin to create the final approved working 3D design – detailing every feature required to efficiently and confidently enter the manufacturing process.

Assembly & Production

Using the latest 3D manufacturing techniques we produce the high accuracy components required. Following accurate assembly the tools tested to ensure the required specification is achieved.

Can we make the tool you need? Send your design and find out

Got a rough pencil sketch, CAD drawing or CAD model of the product you require? We can evaluate its form, fit and function and help you decide on how to make it!

Upload Your Design

tool making designs

Dont just take our word for it

What our clients are saying

…Paragon always go the extra mile and ensure that everything is working perfect every time…

James Welbeck – Food company

The die ran extremely well at 50 parts per minute with good quality. We have now commissioned the tool ready for production. The toolmakers deserve a pat on the back.

Paul, New Tooling Engineer – Automotive – Sunderland

Our customer has laid down three sets of tooling, one in Taiwan, one in the UK and one with Paragon Toolmaking. The parts off the Paragon tool are the best by far.

Chris, – General Manager – Computer Casing Components – Tewkesbury

We’ve used Paragon Toolmaking for many years as we know they’ll provide the exact tooling we need, of the highest standard and longevity, and they are always there to offer help and support.

Keith – Process Engineer- White Goods – Rotherham