In order to better produce and manufacture special tools, at the beginning of the medium and high speed punch is the use of human resources, animal power to rotate the wheel to lift the hammer forging products workpiece, it is the most historic forging machinery. In the fourteenth century, there was the water-powered drop hammer. In the 15th to 16th century, the ocean navigation industry developed rapidly. In order to calcine iron anchors better, the hydraulic drive rod and rod hammer appeared. The 18th century saw the emergence of steam generators and trains (see electric locomotives), so higher forgings were required. In 1842, J. Smith of the United States developed the steam hammer, which began the period of steam powered high-speed servo punch.

The hydraulic press was invented by J. Brummer in the United States in 1795, but it was not applied to calcination until the mid-19th century when large forgings were necessary. With the creation and invention of the motor, the mechanical equipment press and air hammer with electric driving force appeared at the end of the 19th century, and got a rapid development trend. Since the Second World War, medium and heavy forging machines such as 750,000 kN free forging hydraulic press, 1,500 kC counterhammer, 60,000 kN plate stamping die press, 160,000 kN hot die forging press and some automatic cold heading machines have been successively produced, and a comprehensive management system of forging and pressing machinery has been produced.