Printing Machinist
Printing machinists set up and operate letterpress, lithographic, flexographic and gravure printing presses. They work on a range of printed products including packaging, stationery, greeting cards, books and newspapers, depending on the printing method used.
- Letterpress printing is the oldest form of printing, in which ink is applied to a raised surface and transferred directly to paper through pressure. This process is used widely in the production of self-adhesive stickers.
- Offset lithography is a process of printing from a plate with a flat surface (planographic) and is used mainly in the production of newspapers, magazines, cardboard packaging and books.
- Flexographic printing uses a raised surface on a flexible rubber or photopolymer plate to produce flexible packaging such as bread bags and confectionary wrappers.
- Gravure printing uses a recessed cylinder to remove excess ink from the paper's surface, producing an engraved design effect (intaglio). This process is used mainly for long-run packaging work designed for food and other consumables.
Printing machinists may perform the following tasks:
- make printing plates
- fit printing plates or cylinders on presses, mix the inks that are applied to them and adjust the colour flow to the image
- adjust the paper feeding devices which separate and feed sheets through the machine
- carry out minor repairs and routine maintenance
- set up and operate 'in-line' finishing functions.
Specialisations:
With experience and sometimes further training, it is possible to progress to supervisory and management positions.
Printing machinists work in both small businesses and large manufacturing companies, and with single and multi-colour printing presses.
Personal Requirements:
- enjoy practical and manual work
- good eyesight (may be corrected) and normal colour vision
- good hand-eye coordination
- able to carry out detailed work
- mechanical aptitude.
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