Printing machine operators operate printing machines to produce various printed products. No college degree is required, but mechanical knowledge, adaptability, and graphic design skills are desirable. Training is mostly on-the-job, but larger companies prefer candidates with a degree in printing machinery. Focusing on a specific type of machine, such as offset or digital presses, can help find a market to become a press machine operator. Other specialized machines include screen printers and plotters.
Printing machine operators, also known as press operators, are those responsible for operating printing machines and printing brochures, newspapers, business cards, shirts, marketing materials, and a wide variety of other printed products. To become a printing machine operator, there is no need for a college degree, but it will increase your chances of getting the job and advancing through the ranks. Skills that will help you land the job include mechanical knowledge, the ability to work with other machines, adaptability, and graphic design. Knowing what type of machines to focus on is also important, because each type of machine requires specialized knowledge.
Most of the training is done on the job when a person wants to become a printing machine operator. Most small copiers are usually run by operators who have no formal education, or at least no formal education dealing specifically with printing machines. Larger companies, such as newspaper printers, prefer to hire people with a two- or four-year college degree in printing machinery, and this type of degree is offered by many community colleges, state colleges, and technical schools. If there are no local colleges offering this degree, apprenticeship at a copier or printing company is also sufficient.
Certain skills can help you become a printing machine operator. Mechanical knowledge is desirable because, when a machine breaks down, it is cheaper for the company to ask an employee to fix the machine than to call a repairman. The ability to work with other machines such as cutters, folders and other finishing machines is essential because most print jobs require some type of finishing work. Every print job will be different; therefore, an adaptable worker is needed to handle the work of machines in different ways. Graphic design is another desirable skill if a client needs a fixed graphic and because most printers also offer graphic design services.
Focusing on a specific type of machine makes it easier to find a market in which to become a press machine operator. Offset presses, which use a large press with plates that transfer ink to paper, and digital presses, which use toner, are the two most common and versatile printing machines. They are used by large printing companies, small copiers and newspaper printers and represent a large part of the printing industry.
Other types of printing machines are used in specialized markets. Screen printers are used to print on clothing and other fabrics. Plotters are used for posters and large mechanical or design drawings. Finding a market of interest will help guide your training and finding a company in need of a new press machine operator.
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