Progressive vs. Compound Dies: Which is right for you?

January 15, 2026

When planning a new sheet metal component, the first big question is always about the tooling strategy. Should you invest in a Progressive Die or stick to a Compound Die?

1. What is a Compound Die?

A compound die performs multiple operations (like cutting and piercing) in a single stroke, but at a single station. It is excellent for high accuracy regarding flatness.

• Pros: Superior flatness, lower tooling cost than progressive.
• Cons: Slower production speed (often hand-fed or single-stroke strip fed).

2. What is a Progressive Die?

A progressive die moves the metal strip through multiple stations. As the name suggests, the part is "progressively" formed with each stroke.

• Pros: Extremely high speed (SPM), lower unit cost for high volumes.
• Cons: Higher initial tooling cost, complex design.