Extrusion Press Operator III - 3rd shift

About the role

Operate and manage extrusion press systems, including stretcher, saw, and oven tending, to produce high-quality metal extrusions while maintaining production efficiency and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Use controls to manually or automatically load and unload materials; start and set up stretcher for two-person operation
• Use metrology tools to perform quality checks; understand profile print and cosmetic allowable defect charts
• Verify recipe for accuracy and make modifications as required
• Safely operate the Saw and change saw blades
• Perform control chart completion per procedures and identify samples as needed for vision/quality checks
• Safely move baskets, sequencing baskets in preparation for aging oven in both manual and automatic mode
• Troubleshoot equipment and scrap shear
• Mark the front ends and end of orders, samples, and splits with the proper coding
• Understand different types of alloys and temperature, quenching, stretching, and aging practices required to reach desired mechanical properties
• Coordinate and direct effective and efficient operation of press system through maximizing production up time and maximizing recovery through recommendations of optimum production parameters (recipes) to Extrusion Supervisor
• Inspect all metal extruded for visual defects; clearly mark any non-conforming or defective metal to alert appropriate personnel to remove and scrap
• Immediately communicate quality issues to Extrusion Supervisor and operations
• Set-up quench to include water and/or blocking as required or instructed
• Ensure dies and tools are loaded in boxes to achieve proper heating and to avoid hot tools
• Perform die changes and load dies into ovens proactively for order sequence
• Prepare the next order information and/or tooling prior to the current job's end; be ready to keep the press line running
• Understand cross section and die characteristics to maintain tolerance
• Safely and effectively use failure tool to remove billets from container
• Perform daily TPM's as assigned – such as dummy block rotation; fill up lubrication systems, checking pit levels, checking and replacing filters, checking probe function, conducting press alignment checks, etc.
• Report any downtime, troubleshoot errors, and communicate potential causes to team leader, plant services and/or engineering
• Lead, train, rotate, assist as needed with other Profile Manufacturers between running press, finish saw and floating to maintain production, quality, or safety
• Ensure accurate production data recording – billets run (alloy, cast number, length, count), SPC checks, samples, good pieces racked, pieces scrapped, and reasons are entered into Computer System

Qualifications

• Experience in all aspects of the extrusion operation including press operation, stretcher, sawyer, and oven tending
• Mechanical aptitude
• Strong organizational skills to maintain work processes, records and report documentation
• Ability to read and understand blueprints, drawings, route sheets and understand tolerance calculations
• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or three years related experience and/or training in machine operation; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Forklift certified with the ability to learn and be certified on the Combi lift

Experience

• Prior extrusion experience in a manufacturing environment desirable

Physical & Environmental Requirements

• Regularly works near moving mechanical parts
• Frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles, extreme heat, and risk of electrical shock
• Noise level in the work environment is usually loud to very loud
• Ability to perform occasional to frequent pushing, pulling, bending, kneeling, twisting, crawling and/or reaching over a full work shift (8-12 hours)
• Ability to stand and/or walk constantly over a full work shift (8-12 hours)
• Often lifts light weight material; rarely lifting/moving average weight (25-50 lbs / 11-27 kgs) material