Mechanical press drive system and method

A method for operating a mechanical press comprising at least one electric drive motor, a drive control for controlling at least one said motor, a ram, a mechanical element for operating said press to carry out a press cycle including a pressing part and one or more non-pressing parts of said press cycle, the method comprising:

• connecting the motor to the mechanical element and connecting the mechanical element to the ram;
• and
• providing a control output to said drive control such that a speed of the at least one said drive motor is varied during at least one said pressing or non-pressing part of said press cycle, such that the speed of the at least one drive motor is continuously variable up to a speed that is greater than a pressing speed of the press, wherein at least one of initiating or terminating rotation of a crank of the press at a position other than top dead center, wherein a point of at least one of initiating or terminating rotation of the crank is variable, wherein during the press cycle the crank is rotated up to an angle of rotation that is greater than 360 degrees, wherein the crank is rotated in at least one of a positive or negative direction.