Extruder Operator

About the Role

Responsible for all activities associated with safely operating Plastics Extrusion Machinery including setup, operation, cleanup, and recommendation of improvements to meet customer demand.

Responsibilities

• Work safely at all times, be aware of surroundings, and understand and comply with Pratt Industries Safety rules and GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices).
• Setup extrusion lines producing bubble-wrap film from resin.
• Load resin, additives, and blends into hoppers; verify correct material types and ratios.
• Complete or assist with roll changes on the machine as needed throughout the shift.
• Constantly monitor the machine and its output; adjust as needed, including:
  • Melt temperatures and pressures
  • Bubble height and inflation
  • Bubble uniformity
  • Cooling systems
• Quickly identify and correct machine issues including bubble breaks, wrinkles, jams, poor clarity, and die lines. Report higher-level mechanical concerns to the Production Supervisor, Production Manager, or Plant Maintenance Tech via Maintenance work orders.
• Complete and be proactive in necessary upkeep of the machine—die cleaning, screen changes, and filter changes.
• Maintain housekeeping and cleaning of work areas—keep clean and free of tripping hazards during and at the end of the shift.
• Learn and comply with Pratt Industries quality procedures and policies. Stop bad quality from leaving the facility to the Customer.
• Understand the capability and capacity of the machine and drive efficiencies to limit waste and downtime. Balance quality with machine speeds for excellent output and minimal downtime.
• Train and assist other extrusion Machine Operators with job duties, downtime, setup times, and quality.
• Complete necessary reports accurately and timely, including Production Data, Machine Operational Status, Safety Data, and Quality Data.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures, including safety and good housekeeping.
• Adhere to the production schedule. Make recommendations for optimizing the schedule to meet cost, quality, and service goals. Report unusual scheduling issues to Supervisor.
• Work overtime as necessary, sometimes on short notice. Must be available to support 24/7 customer service, including holidays when required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Preferred qualifications:
  • Prior work experience in the packaging industry (paper, plastics, converting).
  • 1 year of experience working on cast-film extrusion machines.
  • Experience with Production Software (e.g., Vorne).
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with flexibility. Must efficiently adapt to frequent product/job changes during a shift.

Skills

• Able to read and follow instructions (quality, safety, job packets).
• Able to read a tape measure with speed and accuracy.
• Able to calculate figures and amounts such as percentages, measurement, volume, and rate.
• Able to use/work with the metric system.
• Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or graphic form.
• Ability to deal with problems and develop real-time solutions.

Certifications

• Required to be certified for and maintain a Pratt Lift Truck Operator License.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally push/pull product with the assistance of tools/machinery up to 130 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, some of which can become extremely hot.
• Frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• Occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; and vibration.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.