Abstract: The press has a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder mounted beneath a work plate, and linked to an upper press plate by rods extending through the work plate to provide compression in a die-set area defined between the upper press plate and the work plate. The pneumatically operated piston and cylinder are encased within an enclosed base which is insulated. The movable cylinder acts against springs also mounted within the base which cause the press plate to rebound after a pneumatically operated downstroke.