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Medium Crest Clamshell Presses

Informed buyers make better decisions. Trained operators make better production. DCA exists for both.

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No more make ready

More cutting area. Same fast setup.

The engineered frame delivers flat, even cutting force across the entire platen. That means no shimming to compensate for deflection, no chasing soft spots, and no wasted sheets dialing in a new die. Load it, set it, cut it.

For manufacturers running a mix of packaging, displays, and signage, a medium Crest handles the variety without slowing down between jobs.

Die Cutting Advisors is the exclusive North American representative for Crest Clamshell Die Cutters.

Substrates & Uses

Applications & Materials

Medium Crest presses are built for production environments handling larger sheet sizes and thicker materials.

Typical applications
  • Corrugated packaging and RSC boxes
  • POP displays and retail signage
  • Heavy-board folding cartons
  • Specialty converting and industrial die cutting
  • Creasing and scoring operations for packaging
  • Large format digital print finishing
Materials medium Crest presses can process:
  • Corrugated board (B, C, E, and F flute)
  • Paperboard and folding carton stock
  • Styrene and rigid plastics
  • Polycarbonate
  • PVC and vinyl films
  • Foam core and lightweight display boards

Standard medium Crest presses are designed for materials up to approximately 3/8″ thick. For thicker structural materials such as Falconboard®, thick foam core, or Ultra® Board, Widemouth™ technology — available on large format Crest models — is the recommended solution.

Specifications

Available Sizes & Specifications

Medium Crest presses are available in three formats. All three models share the same tonnage specifications: 450 tons press load / 150 tons die load.

Average manufacturing lead time for medium Crest models is 3½ – 4 months. Delivery may vary based on production levels and inventory at time of order.

Crest 3247 — 32″ × 47″
  • Mobile bed size: 33.85″ × 48.42″
A capable mid-range format for corrugated packaging, folding cartons, and mixed-substrate production runs.
Crest 4056 — 40″ × 56″
  • Mobile bed size: 41″ × 57″
Expanded cutting area for larger display components, signage, and heavier corrugated materials.
Crest 4167 — 41″ × 67″
  • Mobile bed size: 42.91″ × 68.97″
The largest medium format — built for high-tonnage production runs on larger sheets and heavier packaging materials.
Soft Cut™ System

Zero make-ready. Not reduced — zero.

Soft Cut technology replaces the traditional cutting plate with a urethane pad matched to a serrated cutting rule, eliminating setup entirely on the right applications. Soft Cut replaces the traditional cutting plate with a urethane pad matched to a serrated cutting rule, eliminating setup entirely on the right applications. Rigid plastics cut without heat, improved edge quality, fastest possible job changeover. Benefits include:

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  • Minimal or zero make-ready
  • Improved edge quality
  • Ability to cut rigid plastics without heat
  • Faster job changeover
Large industrial machine with a cylindrical metal drum labeled Crest, multiple mechanical components, sensors, and control panel housed in a gray frame on green pads.
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“What sets DCA apart is their responsiveness. I can call them any time, day or night, and they always pick up and take care of us. That’s huge.

We’re running 40 hours a week on our Schwabe and Crest machines, both purchased through DCA, so if one of them goes down, it puts us in a tough spot. Knowing I can reach someone immediately and get the issue resolved quickly gives me real peace of mind. For me, that kind of support is the real value of working with DCA.”
Ryan Whiddon
McPherson Manufacturing
Built to last

Built to Run. Built to Last.

Crest presses are manufactured using the highest grade raw materials — a proprietary design built to run reliably across one, two, and even three shifts for 20 years or more. When the time comes, they can be refurbished and put back into production.

Every medium Crest ships standard with a minimum of one top laser safety scanner and Schmersal edge guard technology on the moving platen, meeting and exceeding ANSI, OSHA, CSA, and CE safety standards. Safety compliance isn’t an add-on with Crest — it’s standard equipment.
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Finance

Financing Options

Capital equipment purchases are significant decisions. DCA works with manufacturers to identify financing options that fit their situation, so equipment investment doesn’t have to wait for the right budget cycle.

Learn more

FAQ

Find answers to commonly asked questions.

The Crest frame was designed using finite analysis engineering to study how a clamshell behaves under load. Both the frame and moving platen are surface ground perfectly flat, not milled or fly cut. The result is a press that stays flat and parallel during the cut, which virtually eliminates make-ready and reduces the skill level required to run it consistently.

Medium presses provide larger cutting areas and significantly more tonnage — 450 tons press load versus 260–380 tons on small models. If your production involves corrugated materials, larger display components, or sheets that exceed small-format capacity, a medium Crest is the natural next step.

Average manufacturing lead time is 3½ to 4 months. Lead times can vary depending on production levels and inventory at the time of order. Die Cutting Advisors can provide current lead time estimates when you're evaluating a purchase.