The Press Operator operates, monitors, and maintains industrial printing and packaging machinery (typically flexographic or specialized plastic packaging presses) to produce high-quality printed packaging materials.
Core Duties & Responsibilities
- Machine Operation: Set up, run, and adjust computer-controlled or flexographic printing presses according to production job orders.
- Quality Control: Monitor ongoing print runs, inspect products for color accuracy, registration, and defects, and make real-time adjustments.
- Materials & Preparation: Load rolls, ink, plates, and substrates into the machine, and prepare materials for the converting or pouch-making departments.
- Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Perform routine cleaning, preventative maintenance, and basic mechanical troubleshooting, reporting major equipment issues to the press supervisor.
- Safety & Compliance: Follow all plant safety guidelines, maintain a clean workspace, and meet daily production and efficiency targets.
Shift Structure & Work Environment
- Shift Schedule: Primarily 12-hour shifts with non-rotating or compressed/variable work schedules (including potential weekend or overtime requirements).
- Workplace Environment: Fast-paced manufacturing plant setting involving departments such as press, maintenance, pouch, and wicket.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent.
- Experience: Prior experience operating flexographic or industrial printing presses (typically 1+ years preferred).
- Skills: Strong mechanical aptitude, color vision/color-matching ability, basic math and troubleshooting skills, and the physical capacity to stand for long shifts and lift heavy materials (up to 50lbs.)
