Fast response and stable torque output are crucial to the performance of electric screw presses. This paper describes the design of a direct torque control (DTC) system for speeding up torque response and reducing the starting current of electric screw presses and its application to the J58K series of numerical control electric screw presses with a dual-motor drive. The DTC drive system encompasses speed control, torque reference control, and switching frequency control. Comparison of the DTC dual-AC induction motor drive with corresponding AC servo motor drive showed that for the J58K-315 electric screw press, the DTC drive system attains a higher maximum speed (786 r/min) within a shorter time (1.13 s) during a 250 mm stroke and undergoes smaller rise in temperature (42.0 °C) in the motor after running for 2 h at a 12 min-1 strike frequency than the AC servo motor drive does (751 r/min within 1.19 s, and 50.6 °C rise). Moreover, the DTC AC induction motor drive, with no need for a tachometer or position encoder to feed back the speed or position of the motor shaft, enjoys increased reliability in a strong-shock work environment. Fast response and stable torque output are crucial to the performance of electric screw presses. This paper describes the design of a direct torque control (DTC) system for speeding up torque response and reducing the starting current of electric screw presses and its application to the J58K series of numerical control electric screw presses with a dual-motor drive. The DTC drive system encompasses speed control, torque reference control, and switching frequency control. Comparison of the DTC dual-AC induction motor drive with corresponding AC servo motor drive showed that for The J58K-315 electric screw press, the DTC drive system attains a higher maximum speed (786 r / min) within a shorter time (1.13 s) during a 250 mm stroke and undergoes smaller rise in temperature (42.0 ° C) in the motor after running for 2 h at a 12 min-1 strike frequency than the AC servo motor drive does (751 r / min within 1.19 s, and 50.6 ° C rise). Moreover, the DTC AC induction motor drive, with no need for atachometer or position encoder to feed back the speed or position of the motor shaft, enjoys increased reliability in a strong-shock work environment.