Profession flexographic press operator

Flexographic press operators use flexographic relief plate to print on almost any material. The relief plate is inked and pressed onto the material to be printed.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Printing on large scale machines

  Methods, processes, and restrictions related to printing on machines that produce large quantities and sizes of graphic print materials.

• Flexography

  Process used to print on foil, plastic, corrugated, and other materials used for packaging. This process utilises flexible relief plates, which are made out of rubber or plastic. This method can be used for printing onto almost any type of surface.

• Printing materials

  The materials, such as paper, film, metal foils, and glass, on which texts or designs can be transferred by applying ink through direct pressure or with intermediate rollers.

• Quality standards

  The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.

• Polygraphy

  Production branch that handles reproduction of text and images by printing.

• Printing techniques

  The techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.

Skills

• Prepare printing form

  Prepare and inspect plates that are used in printing process to transfer ink on the desired surface and place them in the machines, for example fixing them around printing rollers.

• Determine colour shades

  Determine and use the correct colour to be applied to a surface, according to requirements, by using instruments and software.

• Supply machine

  Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.

• Set up the controller of a machine

  Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.

• Clean ink rollers

  Clean ink roller and type using ink solvent and rags.

• Follow safety precautions in printing

  Apply safety and health principles, policies and institutional regulations of working in printing production. Protect oneself and others against such hazards as chemicals used in printing, invasive allergens, heat, and disease causing agents.

• Monitor automated machines

  Continuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.

• Troubleshoot

  Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

• Follow production schedule

  Follow production schedule taking into account all requirements, times and needs. This schedule outlines what individual commodities must be produced in each time period and encapsulates various concerns like production, staffing, inventory, etc. It is usually linked to manufacturing where the plan indicates when and how much of each product will be demanded. Utilise all the information in the actual implementation of the plan.

• Operate flexographic printing machine

  Prepare and adjust all units of flexographic web presses and tend the development line.

• Perform test run

  Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.

• Produce prepress proof

  Make single or multi-coloured test prints to ensure that the product meets the arranged standards. Compare the sample with the template or discuss the result with the customer in order to make the last adjustments before mass production.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB