A printer operator handles commissioning, operation, and maintenance of printers for book, magazine, or newspaper publishers. They supervise machines that transfer images onto paper and must have a strong understanding of printing plates, ink pressure, and paper loading. Good communication skills, mechanical ability, and basic math skills are required. A two-year degree is desirable, and understanding of security is important. Computers are being used more in commercial printing, so press operators need to stay up-to-date with new trends and technological developments.
A printer operator is tasked with handling all aspects of a printer including commissioning, operation and maintenance. The exact scope of duties depends on the company and the size of the business. Print operators usually work for book, magazine or newspaper publishers. They can also work in smaller in-house print shops.
Often, print operators supervise machines that use cylinders or plates to transfer an image onto paper. Therefore, press operators must have a strong understanding of installing and adjusting printing plates, controlling ink pressure, and loading and adjusting paper used for printing. Other responsibilities include cleaning ink supplies and plates or cylinders. Specific tasks may vary depending on the type of equipment being used and how much of the equipment is manually or computer controlled.
Work can be stressful because it tends to be so deadline-driven. The printer operator’s job is to ensure that the equipment is running smoothly and correctly so that deadlines are met. Equipment breakdowns or errors in production can be very costly in terms of lost time and wasted materials.
Good press operators have natural mechanical ability that allows them to make quick adjustments and repairs to the press. A strong understanding of basic math skills is also required to quickly determine how much paper and how much ink is needed to complete a job. Finally, print operators need good communication skills to voice problems with the printer.
In the past, a press operator could enter the field through an apprenticeship program. This is becoming less common, in part because of the technology demands associated with the job. Now, many press operators attend a professional program or college to learn their trade. A two-year degree is considered desirable in obtaining a job as a printer operator.
Understanding and awareness of security is also important to being a printer operator. Depending on working conditions, print operators may be required to wear safety glasses and safety shoes. New technologies have made work much safer than in the past. This also allows many adjustments to be completed on the computer rather than manually.
Today, computers are being used more and more in commercial printing. In other words, computers have the ability to control aspects that a press operator used to handle manually. Occasionally, parts of the work may be done primarily by a computer, such as production work in the automotive industry. For this reason, press operators need to stay abreast of new trends and technological developments in their field.
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