In a press having a plunger supported so as to be movable linearly back and forth by drive means which include at least one servomotor in combination with a rotatably supported inertia structure connected for rotation with the servomotor, the inertia structure has an inertia moment which is small enough to permit reversal of the servomotor within a stroke length of the plunger so that the stroke of the plunger is adjustable under the control of a control device connected to the servomotor for controlling its operation.