Used Lawton Hydraulic 4-Post Presses for Sale

The C.A. Lawton Company was founded in 1879 in De Pere, Wisconsin, originally as a general machine shop and foundry. In 1935 the company formed its Plastics Machinery Division to serve the growing demands of the rubber and plastics molding industry, establishing itself as a dedicated manufacturer of hydraulic compression and transfer molding presses. That division built its identity over decades of press manufacturing in Wisconsin before being acquired in 2007, with the successor operation continuing to support Lawton press owners under the Lawton Machinery Group and later Trinks Inc. names.

Lawton's Plastics Machinery Division centered its product line on four-post hydraulic molding presses in both up-acting and down-acting configurations, spanning a broad range of tonnages suited to production thermoset molding. The division produced compression presses, transfer molding presses, and specialized thermoset presses including the Advanced Thermoset series designed for high-speed, precision molding of demanding materials. The Genie II is among the recognized model names from the Lawton press line, and upstroke hydraulic presses in the 200- to 300-ton class were a staple of the catalog.

Lawton thermoset presses found wide adoption across industries that depend on the dimensional stability and heat resistance of cured thermoset materials. Core end markets included automotive composites manufacturing, aerospace interior and structural components, electrical and electronics enclosures, appliance components, and energy applications such as fuel cell bipolar plate production. The presses were equally at home in job shops running bulk molding compound and sheet molding compound as in dedicated OEM production environments.

Buyers seeking used Lawton thermoset presses and hydraulic up-acting presses value the division's reputation for heavy-duty four-post frame construction, consistent platen parallelism, and straightforward hydraulic systems that are practical to maintain and rebuild. Because the successor company Trinks Inc. actively supports Lawton press serial numbers with replacement parts and service documentation, sourcing components for older machines remains feasible. That combination of durable build quality and ongoing parts availability makes used Lawton compression and transfer presses a cost-effective choice for thermoset molders looking to expand capacity without the lead time or capital outlay of new equipment.

Meadoworks is your trusted source for used Lawton equipment. As third-generation industrial equipment dealers and AMEA-certified appraisers with over 50 years of experience, we offer quality-inspected Lawton machines at competitive prices. Browse the 1 used Lawton machine listed above, or 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 Lawton equipment to sell? Get a free valuation or contact our team.