Abstract: A press has a frame, an upper die vertically shiftable on the frame, a drive for vertically shifting the upper die on the frame, an upper holding ram vertically shiftable in the upper die, and an upper actuator connected between the upper holding ram and the upper die and operable to move the upper ram vertically relative to the upper die. There is also a lower die on the frame below the upper die, a lower holding ram vertically shiftable in the lower die, a lower actuator connected between the lower holding ram and the lower die and operable to move the lower ram vertically relative to the lower die. A bridge unit is connected between one of the actuators and the respective die for bridging an acceleration phase of the respective actuator in which the respective actuator can be accelerated to the speed of the respective ram.