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Plastics and Composites Processor

State/Territory Specific Information

Plastics and composites processors handle machinery which manufactures or finishes plastic or composite products by injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, hand fabrication, hand lay-up, calendering and other processes.

Plastics and composites processors may perform the following tasks:

  • check machine settings and safety devices before their operation, set controls, start machines and load materials
  • regulate the machine temperatures, pressures and speeds of operation of manually operated and semi-automatic equipment
  • extract mouldings and extrusions, cut off waste material, and trim and finish moulded components in accordance with machine cycle and quality specifications
  • fix, assemble or install moulded-in components
  • form, fabricate or lay up sheet and thermosetting plastics materials
  • control feeding devices for wire and cable coating
  • control blending, compounding and drying equipment
  • maintain production and quality assessment records
  • coat moulds with fibreglass (a mixture of plastic resin, glass fibres and chemical hardeners), either by hand or by using special spray guns
  • laminate fibreglass by smoothing it with rollers and brushes to remove air pockets before the mixture hardens
  • use honeycomb, balsa or foam plastic when stiffening or flotation of a product is required, and to reduce its weight
  • fit together various parts of the product by hand, using fibreglass, tape or putties as bonding agents
  • shape and sand products before assembling.

Specialisations:

Plastics and composites processors may work in one of the following industry areas: injection moulding, pipe and profile extrusion, blow moulding of plastic bottles, film and sheet extrusion, thermoforming and fabrication, reinforced plastics (fibreglass) and composites, vinyl calendering, laminating, compounding and reclamation, foam processing and cable manufacturing.

Plastics and composites processors may have to wear special safety equipment such as masks, gloves and protective clothing, especially when using spray guns. Some of the tasks involved in composites production may require working in confined spaces.

Plastics and composites processors may be required to work shifts.

Personal Requirements:

  • enjoy practical and manual activities
  • good hand-eye coordination
  • physically fit
  • good at technical activities
  • able to work as part of a team
  • enjoy working with machinery.

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