If you’re a production manager or a buyer in plastic injection molding, you know the feeling: you need reliability, performance, and fast delivery… but your budget doesn’t want to hear about it. Today I’m going to compare a new hydraulic injection molding press with a second-hand hydraulic press—and I’ll be honest: in many cases, I’d happily choose Demag second hand over new.

The Big Question: New Machine Smell or Proven Workhorse?

Buying new equipment can be exciting. It’s shiny, it has the latest options, and it comes with that “factory fresh” confidence. But in real-world production, we don’t get paid for shiny—we get paid for OEE, stability, repeatability, and throughput.

That’s why used and refurbished hydraulic presses are a serious alternative. At UDO KRICHBAUM TRANSITUS, we focus on used and reconditioned industrial machinery for plastics processing and injection molding, including thorough inspection and commissioning before delivery. In other words: I want you to get a machine that produces parts, not surprises.

1) Lower Initial Investment: Keep Cash for What Really Matters

The most obvious advantage of buying a second-hand hydraulic press is the one your finance department will love: dramatically lower CAPEX.

With a new press, you’re paying for:

With a Demag second hand hydraulic machine (or equivalent high-quality brand), the purchase price can drop substantially—often making it possible to upgrade not just one press, but an entire cell. Suddenly you can invest the difference into what actually boosts profitability:

My favorite part? Your ROI calculation starts smiling again.

2) Shorter Delivery Times: Because Production Can’t Wait

New presses often involve long lead times—sometimes months—depending on configuration, factory schedules, and logistics. If you have a new project ramp-up, a capacity bottleneck, or a customer contract breathing down your neck, waiting isn’t an option.

Buying Demag second hand or other used machines can reduce delivery time massively, especially if the equipment is already available and can be prepared quickly. When a machine is in stock and properly checked, the timeline becomes more about:

In practice, this can mean you move from “maybe next quarter” to “let’s schedule commissioning.” For production managers, that’s not a detail—that’s survival.

3) Access to Higher-End Machinery on a Realistic Budget

Here’s where used equipment gets genuinely exciting: a second-hand market often lets you step up into a higher class of machine for the same money.

Instead of buying a basic new press with limited options, you might get a better-equipped, higher-spec hydraulic machine—think more robust clamping units, stronger build, premium controls, or additional features—simply because depreciation works in your favor.

So, rather than “new but minimal,” you can go for “experienced but premium.” And in injection molding, premium usually means:

If you want a simple way to say it: with Demag second hand, you can often buy quality you’d otherwise postpone for years.

When a Refurbished Press Can Perform Like New (Yes, Really)

Let’s tackle the classic objection: “Used means risky.” I get it. But the truth is: a reconditioned hydraulic press can deliver performance very close to a new machine—if the right work is done before delivery and the machine is matched correctly to your application.

In my experience, used machines shine when:

Hydraulic presses have a strong reputation for durability. With proper inspection, maintenance, and replacement of wear components, a second-hand hydraulic press can be a reliable production asset for years.

What Guarantees Should You Demand When Buying Used?

Buying used doesn’t mean buying blind. If you’re considering a Demag second hand press (or any used hydraulic injection molding machine), I recommend treating guarantees and documentation as non-negotiable.

Here’s what I would ask for:

A good supplier will not be offended by these questions. Actually, the best suppliers love them—because it means you’re a serious buyer who wants a stable machine, not a gambling ticket.

Operational Benefits: The Hidden Wins of Second-Hand Equipment

Beyond price and delivery, used presses bring practical operational advantages that often get overlooked.

Faster integration into existing production

Many plants already know how to maintain hydraulic systems and can integrate a used press with less training overhead. If your team has experience with the brand or control generation, you reduce onboarding time.

Lower depreciation risk

A new machine loses value quickly in the early years. With a Demag second hand press, a big part of that depreciation has already happened. That means your resale value can remain relatively stable if you later adjust capacity.

Proven design, proven uptime

Some older or classic machine series are famous for being extremely robust. When properly reconditioned, they can be “boringly reliable”—which, in production, is the best compliment possible.

Where Buying Second-Hand is Especially Profitable (Real-World Sectors)

Not every application is identical, but there are industries where the business case for used hydraulic presses is particularly strong.

Automotive suppliers (Tier 2 / Tier 3)

If you produce technical parts, brackets, housings, clips, or components with stable demand, a refurbished press can deliver excellent economics. You can expand capacity quickly without locking huge capital into one new asset.

Packaging and consumer goods

High-volume production rewards stable cycles and high uptime. If the press is well matched and properly serviced, a Demag second hand machine can run efficiently while keeping your cost-per-part competitive.

Electrical and electronics components

For connectors, bobbins, covers, and similar parts, process stability matters more than having the newest marketing features. Used equipment can be a very rational choice when quality requirements are well controlled.

Medical and laboratory accessories (non-critical items)

For non-implantable, non-critical plastic components where validation requirements are manageable, second-hand presses can offer an attractive balance—especially when you need multiple machines for parallel production.

Contract molding / job shops

If your order book changes frequently, flexibility is everything. Used presses let you scale up capacity without betting the company on a single long-lead, high-cost purchase.

So… Should You Buy New at All?

Absolutely—sometimes new is the right move. If you require the latest control architecture, ultra-high efficiency features, highly specialized options, or strict corporate standards, a new press can be justified.

But if your goal is fast capacity, smart investment, and proven performance, then I’d seriously consider a Demag second hand hydraulic press—especially when it comes from a supplier who inspects, reconditions, and tests it before delivery.

My Takeaway: Spend Smarter, Produce Faster

If I had to summarize in one sentence: a used hydraulic press is often the quickest route to profitable production capacity.

Lower investment, shorter lead time, and access to higher-spec machines are three reasons that make second-hand equipment not just acceptable—but strategically smart. And when the machine is properly refurbished and backed by clear guarantees, the performance can be impressively close to new.

If you’re exploring options right now, I recommend starting with your real needs: tonnage, tie-bar spacing, screw diameter, plasticizing capacity, control requirements, and your target cycle times. Then evaluate both new and Demag second handalternatives with the same seriousness. Your production line will tell you which option makes sense—and your budget will probably nod along.