9422 – Plastics processing machine operators

Plastics processing machine operators set up and operate plastic mixing, calendering, extruding and moulding processing machines used in the manufacture of plastic parts and plastic products. They are employed by plastic products manufacturing companies.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Arch cushion press operator – plastic manufacturing

Bag machine operator

Bag-making machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Bakelite mixer operator – plastic manufacturing

Banbury mixer operator – plastic manufacturing

Banbury operator – plastic manufacturing

Blender operator – plastic manufacturing

Blow moulder operator – plastic manufacturing

Blow moulding machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Blow-moulding machine lead operator – plastic manufacturing

Blow-moulding process operator – plastic manufacturing

Cake press operator – plastic manufacturing

Calender operator – plastic manufacturing

Calender wind-up tender – plastic manufacturing

Calendering machine tender – plastic manufacturing

Caster – plastic manufacturing

Casting room operator – plastic manufacturing

Cellophane bag machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Cellophane bag maker – plastic manufacturing

Cellophane making worker – plastic manufacturing

Compression moulder – plastic manufacturing

Compression plastic moulder

Encapsulator – plastic manufacturing

Extruder operator – plastic manufacturing

Extruding machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Extrusion blow moulding operator

Extrusion machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Fibreglass machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Fibreglass moulder

Fibreglass-spraying machine operator

Flatbed press operator – plastic manufacturing

Foam plastic-producing machine operator

Foam plastic-spraying machine operator

Footwear presser – plastic manufacturing

Gel coat sprayer operator – plastic manufacturing

Grinder operator – plastic manufacturing

Heat-sealing machine tender – plastic manufacturing

Injection blow moulding processing operator

Injection molding set-up operator

Injection moulder – plastic manufacturing

Injection moulder operator – plastic manufacturing

Injection moulding operator – plastic manufacturing

Injection moulding processing operator

Injection operator – plastic manufacturing

Injection plastic moulder

Injection-moulding machine lead operator – plastic manufacturing

Injection-moulding machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Laminating machine tender – plastic manufacturing

Linoleum floor tile backer

Linoleum floor tile calender operator

Machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Machine operator – plastics processing

Machine set-up operator – plastic manufacturing

Mannequin moulder – plastic manufacturing

Moulder operator – plastic manufacturing

Multiple extruder operator – plastic manufacturing

Multi-roll calender operator – plastic manufacturing

Neoprene sprayer operator – plastic manufacturing

Pipe extrusion machine operator – plastic manufacturing

Plastic bag machine operator

Plastic bag maker operator

Plastic bag production machine operator

Plastic centrifugal caster

Plastic coagulating tank tender

Plastic coagulation operator

Plastic coagulator

Plastic compounder

Plastic extruder operator

Plastic film roll inspector

Plastic footwear moulder operator

Plastic mannequin moulder – plastic manufacturing

Plastic mixer operator

Plastic mould setter

Plastic pipe production worker

Plastic windshield processor

Plasticator operator

Plastic-extrusion operator

Plastic-fibre-extruding machine tender

Plastic-film extrusion machine operator

Plastic-pipe production machine operator

Plastic-pipe-extruder operator

Plastics and plastic products compounder

Plastics imprinting machine tender

Plastics machine operator

Plastics moulder

Plastics press operator

Plastics processing compounder

Plastics strainer operator

Plastics-blending machine tender

Plastics-moulding machine operator

Plastics-moulding machine setter

Plastic-spreading machine operator

Plastics-processing machine setter

Preform machine tender – plastic manufacturing

Press operator – plastic manufacturing

Pressure-sensitive coater operator – plastic manufacturing

Printing roller moulder – plastic manufacturing

Profile extrusion operator

Profile extrusion processing operator

Profile extrusion set-up operator

Roll operator – plastic manufacturing

Rotational moulding operator

Sheeter operator – plastic manufacturing

Shredder operator – plastic recycling

Shredding machine operator – plastic recycling

Skin-former machine tender – plastic manufacturing

Slitter operator – plastic manufacturing

Solution mixer operator – plastic manufacturing

Solvent mixer operator – plastic manufacturing

Synthetic marble production worker

Thermoforming operator

Vaporizer – plastic manufacturing

Wash line operator – plastic recycling

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Mixing machine operators

Weigh resins, colorants and other chemicals according to formula

Place weighed materials in mixing machine and operate machine to blend plastic and other chemicals to a specified consistency or viscosity

Monitor operation, regulate material supply and add chemicals and colorants to mixture

Operate controls to regulate temperature, speed and other processing conditions

Unload mixture into container or conveyor for further processing

Maintain and perform minor repairs on machinery as required

Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.

Calendering process operators

Set up and operate calendering machines which transform dough-consistent plastic mass into continuous sheets or films of specified thickness

Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment and adjust calender rollers for production line change

Monitor quality of material produced

Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.

Extruding process operators

Set up and operate one or more extruding machines which extrude plastic composites products through a nozzle or die

Change dies on extruding machines according to production line change

Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment

Monitor quality of material produced

Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.

Moulding process operators

Set up and operate one or more moulding machines which mould plastic products according to specifications

Change moulds and adjust equipment for production line change

Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment

Monitor quality of material produced and adjust machine settings as required

Follow formulation card to mix ingredient batches for injection moulding process

Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.

Employment requirements

For all operators in this unit group, completion of secondary school is usually required.

Several years of experience as a helper, tender or packer in the same company may be required.

Completion of a statistical process control (SPC) course may be required.

Completion of courses in hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics systems may be required for moulding process operators.

On-the-job training is provided.

Additional information

Mobility among the various operators in this unit is possible.

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions

Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing (9615)

Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors (9535)

Rubber processing machine operators and related workers (9423)

Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing (9214)