Used Kensol/Franklin Equipment Sold by Meadoworks

Kensol/Franklin traces its roots to hot stamp press manufacturing in Norwood, Massachusetts, where the company operated as a Foilmark-affiliated business through the mid-1990s. After relocating briefly to Newburyport, MA, the brand was acquired by The Thomson Group in 1997 and moved to Franklin, MA, the city that now anchors its name. In 2020 the entire Thomson Group portfolio, including Kensol/Franklin Hot Stamping Presses, was acquired by Nationwide Parts and Services, which continues to manufacture, rebuild, and support the line from a facility in Whitinsville, MA.

The heart of the Kensol/Franklin lineup is the KF series of vertical hot stamping presses, spanning a wide range of capacities and actuating mechanisms. The KF500 is a half-ton straight-down-acting air press well suited to benchtop and short-run work, while the KF1000 steps up to one ton in the same direct-air configuration. Mid-range models include the KF2500, a 2.5-ton straight-down air press, and the KF5000T, a 5-ton air-operated double-toggle press for heavier impression work. At the top of the range sits the KF8500W, a 10/15-ton linear wedge air-operated press designed for large-format or high-force stamping. Suffix letters on model designations indicate configuration variants such as automatic foil advance, pneumatic/computer controls, and specialized platen sizes.

Kensol/Franklin hot stampers serve a remarkably diverse set of end markets. Packaging and printing operations rely on them for foil-stamped labels, folding cartons, and promotional materials. Automotive and aerospace manufacturers use the presses for durable part identification and control-panel marking. The leather and textile trades depend on them for logo branding and monogramming, while medical and pharmaceutical producers use Kensol/Franklin equipment for regulatory marking, date coding, and lot identification on components and packaging.

Buyers seeking used Kensol/Franklin hot stampers consistently cite the machines' heavy-duty cast frames, precision-machined dovetailed ram guides, and straightforward pneumatic circuits as reasons these presses outlast lighter-duty competitors by decades. OEM replacement parts and factory manuals remain available through the current brand steward, which lowers the total cost of ownership on pre-owned equipment and makes a used Kensol/Franklin press a practical long-term investment even for high-volume production environments.

Meadoworks is your trusted source for used Kensol/Franklin equipment. As third-generation industrial equipment dealers and AMEA-certified appraisers with over 50 years of experience, we offer quality-inspected Kensol/Franklin machines at competitive prices. Most of our Kensol/Franklin inventory sells before we can list it online — call 800-323-0307 for equipment not yet listed.

Every machine includes detailed specifications and high-resolution photos, and inspection visits are available for most equipment. We ship worldwide with experienced rigging partners and offer financing for qualified buyers. Have Kensol/Franklin equipment to sell? Get a free valuation or contact our team.