Prepress Operator

Responsibilities

• Follow safe operating procedures, comply with safety rules, and wear personal protective equipment as specified.
• Knows location of all machine stops, fire alarms and fire extinguishers.
• Meet normal attendance requirements including timely reporting of absence and working overtime as requested.
• Complying with company policies and performing other duties assigned.
• Participating in classroom or “on the job” training and instruction to learn job tasks.
• Maintain a neat and orderly work area by observing good manufacturing practices, sanitation guidelines, and cleaning spills and disposing of trash on a timely basis.
• Perform tasks within acceptable limits for quality, quantity, sanitation and timeliness of completion, paying particular attention to prevent and eliminate costly errors.
• Possess good eye-hand coordination, mechanical aptitude, and possess full color perception.
• Understand the usage of required personal protective equipment for the designated areas.
• Demonstrate ability to follow instructions, add and subtract fractions to 32’nds, and use the metric system.
• Demonstrate knowledge of proper solvent handling procedures including storage location, reading of labels, proper dispensing and handling and clean-up procedures.
• Demonstrate proper use of material handling equipment, cylinder carts, hoist, etc.
• Demonstrate the ability to independently locate and obtain press cylinders, gears, links, plates and solvent.
• Demonstrate skill and ability to perform all Pre-press Operator duties and responsibilities including but not limited to: maintaining a clean environment, inspection and upkeep of equipment, utilization of all products with minimal waste, inspection of image plates, raw photopolymer inspection, finished plate inspection, sleeving and de-sleeving of cylinders, make-ready of plates, mounting of plates in registration, and mounting plates in the correct rewind figure.
• Demonstrate ability to inspect and identify defects in the printing plates and determine its effect on the finished product.
• Demonstrate a solid understanding of the Platemaking/Artwork design process.
• Demonstrate general understanding of flexographic process and the role mounting plays in this process.
• Demonstrate ability to read, interpret and analyze production orders for relevant information.
• Demonstrate ability to independently perform routine set-ups including location of cylinders and appropriate cushion sleeves and bridge sleeves.
• Demonstrate ability to work independently to set-up, operate and troubleshoot routine problems in the platemaking/mounting process.
• Ensure proper hazardous waste handling procedures are implemented and followed.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED required.
• Experience: Six (6) months to one (1) year related industrial experience, preferably related to operation of machines (normally as a mounter, mounter assistant, pre-press trainee, press room trainee or press assistant).
• Competencies: Must be able to operate plate making and mounting equipment. Must be able to properly use approved knives for cutting plates and stickyback. Must be able to read a micrometer.