Beyond Standard: Custom Hydraulic Press Solutions by RHTC
A custom 200 ton hydraulic portal press developed by RHTC for handling large industrial workpieces.
At RHTC, standard hydraulic presses have always been an important part of our business. But some applications require more. Different dimensions. Higher forces. Larger working areas. Special tooling. Heated platens. Unique production processes. Or an entirely new press concept developed around the workpiece. That is where our experience with custom hydraulic press solutions comes into play. Dutch trade publication MetaalNieuws recently highlighted several special press projects developed by RHTC. These projects show how we combine hydraulic press technology, engineering experience and close cooperation with our customers to create machines for applications that cannot simply be solved with a standard press. metaalnieuws.nl
From a standard press to a solution built around the application
A custom press project does not start with choosing a machine from a catalogue. It starts with understanding the application. What needs to be pressed, straightened, formed or assembled? Which forces are required? What are the dimensions of the workpiece? How much working space is needed? What level of accuracy is required? And how should the operator interact with the machine?
By answering these questions first, our technical team can determine whether an existing Profi Press machine can be adapted or whether a completely new solution is required. RHTC has invested in technical engineering capacity specifically to support this type of project. Our engineers work directly with customers and our production partners to translate an application into a practical hydraulic press solution. metaalnieuws.nl
Recent projects show just how different those solutions can be.
A compact press for tablet production
One recent project involved the development of a compact four column hydraulic press for a Dutch customer producing vitamin tablets for livestock.
The customer was already using a press for the production process, but the existing machine was large, complex and susceptible to production interruptions. Rather than simply replacing the existing machine with a similar press, RHTC analysed the production process together with the customer and developed a different press concept. The result was a much more compact machine designed around a simpler and more reliable production process. An important part of the solution is the movement of the press table during the production cycle, which assists in releasing the tablets from the tooling. The concept incorporates knowledge RHTC had already gained from previous special press applications. The new machine produces six tablets per cycle, with a cycle time of less than 30 seconds. This enables the required production capacity while making the process more reliable and easier to operate. metaalnieuws.nl
A compact four column press designed around a specialised tablet production process.
This project is a good example of an important principle within our custom engineering approach:
The best solution is not always a larger or more powerful press. Sometimes it is a smarter press concept.
A 200 ton portal press with a 5 × 5 metre working table
At the other end of the scale is one of the largest portal presses RHTC has developed to date. This custom hydraulic portal press was designed for an industrial customer in Greece and is used for straightening large cut plate components. The machine has a pressing force of 200 tons and a working table measuring 5 × 5 metres. The complete press weighs approximately 62 tons. The portal moves across the large working area, allowing pressing operations to be performed at different positions on the workpiece. metaalnieuws.nl
The size of the machine was only one part of the engineering challenge. Accuracy was equally important. The application required demanding tolerances for parallelism and flatness, including when the machine was operating under load.The project therefore required close coordination between RHTC, the customer and our production partner throughout engineering and manufacturing. Following acceptance at the production facility, the press was transported to its final destination using two trucks. Remarkably, the complete commercial and technical process was handled largely through digital communication, including remote contact during the acceptance process. metaalnieuws.nl
For us, projects like this demonstrate that large and technically demanding machines can be successfully developed even when customers are located far beyond the Netherlands.
Heated platen press for advanced component production
Another special project required an entirely different type of solution. RHTC developed a four column hydraulic press equipped with heated platens capable of reaching temperatures up to 200°C. Temperature sensors are integrated into the upper and lower tables as well as the tooling, allowing temperature to play an active role in the production process. The machine also combines this thermal capability with high speed hydraulic movement. According to the specifications published by MetaalNieuws, the press reaches a speed of 110 mm per second, with an opening height and piston stroke of approximately one metre. metaalnieuws.nl This illustrates another important advantage of custom engineering. A hydraulic press does not have to be defined by pressing force alone. Temperature control, speed, working dimensions, tooling, controls and automation can all become part of the complete production solution.
Hydraulic pressing combined with controlled heating for a specialised production process.
Engineering around your requirements
These three machines are completely different. One is compact and designed to improve a repetitive production process. Another is a massive 200 ton portal press for extremely large workpieces. The third combines hydraulic pressing with precise temperature control. Yet the development process behind them follows the same principle:
Start with the application, then develop the machine around it.
Depending on the project, a custom RHTC solution can include adaptations such as:
• Larger or specially dimensioned working tables
• Increased vertical or horizontal working space
• Modified frames and portal constructions
• Special cylinder positions or movements
• Custom tooling
• Heated tables or platens
• Special control systems
• Different operating speeds
• Automated or semi automated production cycles
• Application specific safety concepts
• Integration with an existing production process
The exact solution always depends on the application and must be technically evaluated for each project.
Standard when possible. Custom when necessary.
Custom engineering is an important part of RHTC, but it does not mean that every customer needs a specially designed machine. RHTC and Profi Press offer a broad range of standard machines, including workshop presses, portal presses, C frame presses, eccentric presses, horizontal presses and other metalworking machinery. For many applications, a standard machine is the most practical and economical solution. But when the dimensions, process or technical requirements fall outside the standard range, our engineering experience allows us to take the next step. That combination is one of the strengths of RHTC:
A proven standard machine when it fits. A custom hydraulic press when it does not.
Do you have an application that requires more than a standard press?
Every special press starts with understanding the workpiece and the production process. If you are looking for a hydraulic press but are not sure which configuration is suitable, our team can help evaluate your application.
Send us information about your workpiece, dimensions, material, required pressing force, production process and any special requirements. Drawings, photos and technical specifications can help our engineers understand the application in greater detail.
Let’s discuss what your application requires.
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Featured by MetaalNieuws
This article was inspired by an interview and feature published by Dutch manufacturing trade publication MetaalNieuws on 30 September 2026. The English article above has been independently written and adapted by RHTC for its international audience.
Read the original Dutch MetaalNieuws article:
MetaalNieuws: RHTC onderscheidt zich met bijzondere speciale persen
The original feature discusses RHTC’s growing focus on special hydraulic presses and several recent custom projects.