Typically consisting of a simple rectangular frame, often fabricated from C-channel or tubing, containing a bottle jack or hydraulic cylinder to apply pressure via a ram to a work-piece. Often used for general-purpose forming work in the auto mechanic shop, machine shop, garage or basement shops, etc. Typical shop presses are capable of applying between 1 and 30 tons pressure, depending on size and construction. Lighter-duty versions are often called arbor presses.

Also known as a forming press, a machine press is a tool used in the manufacturing industry to deform a workpiece under high pressure. There are different types of machines presses, including press brakes, punch presses, shop presses and more. The defining characteristic of all machine presses, however, is that they press a workpiece using high pressure to change the shape of a workpiece.