Die & Tooling Technician

About the role

The Die & Tooling Technician is responsible for overseeing daily equipment set-up activities, including die splitting and cleaning, screw removal and cleaning, equipment set-up including grinder blade changeovers, as well as maintenance repairs and changeovers, to ensure reliable, efficient, and safe manufacturing operations at Plaskolite. This role provides technical leadership and guidance to the Maintenance and Operations Team, ensuring dies, screws, co‑ex inserts and other related tooling are maintained, and repaired according to maintenance quality and performance standards. The Die & Tooling Technician works closely with Production, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to coordinate tooling readiness, troubleshoot tooling‑related issues, and support continuous improvement initiatives. This position plays a key role in maximizing equipment uptime, minimizing lead time for tooling inventory and promoting safe and efficient manufacturing practices and promoting Plaskolite’s “One Plaskolite” culture of collaboration, integrity, and operational excellence. This position requires attention to detail, the ability to work in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, and a strong commitment to safety, teamwork, and quality—reflecting Plaskolite’s core values of Integrity and Improvement.

Location: Zanesville Site.

Responsibilities

• Able to disassemble and reassemble plastic extrusion dies, tooling, screws from start to finish to support production requirements.
• Able to install and set‑up grinder blades and shredder teeth
• Support training of Maintenance personnel in regard to critical tooling assembly and cleaning
• Operate manual machine shop equipment including mills, lathes, grinders, and drill presses.
• Interpret detailed engineering drawings and technical specifications to ensure accurate tooling assembly and repairs
• Inspect machined components using precision measurement instruments to maintain tight tolerance and quality standards.
• Assemble, fit, and validate components to production in ready condition.
• Work directly with extrusion production lines to understand tooling functionality and process requirements.
• Assist in troubleshooting performance issues during extrusion runs and implement corrective actions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to increase tooling life, reduce downtime, and improve workflow efficiency.
• Support capital projects, including installation, setup, and validation of new dies and tooling systems.
• Assist in the implementation of preventive maintenance programs for critical tooling components
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas in compliance with 5S principles and company safety policies.
• Ensure compliance with all safety standards, machine operation procedures, and quality requirements.
• Demonstrate strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to work independently while collaborating with cross‑functional teams.
• Engage with Production, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to ensure successful tooling performance and manufacturing efficiency.
• Promote and model Plaskolite’s "One Plaskolite" values by demonstrating teamwork, accountability, integrity, and a commitment to operational excellence.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Experience: Technical certificate, vocational training, or coursework in tooling,