7381 – Printing press operators

Printing press operators set up and operate sheet and web-fed presses to print text, illustrations and designs on a wide variety of materials such as paper, plastic, glass, leather and metal. They are employed by commercial printing companies; newspapers, magazines, and other publishing companies; and establishments in the public and private sectors that have in-house printing departments.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Apprentice press operator

Apprentice press operator – printing

Apprentice pressman/woman

Apprentice pressman/woman – printing

Apprentice printing press operator

Assistant press operator – printing

Assistant pressman/woman

Assistant pressman/woman – printing

Commercial press operator

Cylinder press operator – printing

Cylinder press set-up operator

Cylinder pressman/woman – printing

Cylinder printing press set-up operator

First press operator – printing

First pressman/woman

First pressman/woman – printing

Flat-bed press set-up operator

Flexographic press adjuster

Flexographic press operator

Flexographic press set-up technician – printing

Flexographic pressman/woman

Gravure press operator

Gravure pressman/woman

Gravure printer – printing

Gravure printing press operator

Gravure proof press operator – printing

Gravure proof puller – printing

Gravure proof wallpaper puller

Ink evaluation and press operator – printing

Ink evaluation pressman/woman – printing

Intaglio printer – printing

Intaglio printing press operator

Job printer

Letterpress operator – printing

Letterpress proof press operator – printing

Letterpress proof puller – printing

Lithographic offset proofer

Lithographic offset proofing hand

Lithographic press operator – printing

Lithographic pressman/woman – printing

Lithographic printer

Newspaper press operator

Newspaper pressman/woman

Offset lithographic proof press operator – printing

Offset machine operator

Offset press operator

Offset press operator – printing

Offset pressman/woman – printing

Offset printer

Photoengraved plate proof press operator – printing

Photoengraved plate proof puller – printing

Plastic sheet offset press operator

Platen press operator – printing

Platen press tender

Press operator – printing

Pressman/woman – printing

Printer

Printing press assistant operator

Printing press operator

Printing technologist

Proof press operator

Proof press operator – printing

Proof pressman/woman – printing

Proofer – printing

Proofing hand – printing

Proofing press operator

Rotary offset press operator

Rotary press operator

Rotogravure press operator – printing

Rotogravure pressman/woman – printing

Rotoprinter – printing

Senior press operator – printing

Senior pressman/woman – printing

Sheet metal lithographic press operator

Sheet metal lithographic pressman/woman

Thermographic printer

Wallpaper gravure proof press operator

Wallpaper rotogravure press operator

Web press operator – printing

Web pressman/woman – printing

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Review job orders to determine job specifications such as production time, colour sequence and quantities required, and advise press crew of these specifications

Mount plates or cylinders and make necessary adjustments

Fill ink fountains and take measurements, make adjustments and determine settings to control colour and viscosity

Set up press and check samples for ink coverage, alignment and registration

Monitor regular press runs for quality and consistency using computer control console and make adjustments as required

Remove and clean plates and cylinders at end of press run

Direct activities of press crew and ensure that safety procedures are adhered to.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.

Completion of a college program in printing technology or a combination of on-the-job training and specialized high school, college or industry courses is usually required.

Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Québec.

Additional information

Progression to supervisory positions, such as pressroom supervisor, is possible with experience.

Exclusions

Operators of laser printers, colour and large copiers and printing machines (in 9471 Plateless printing equipment operators)

Screen printing artisans (in 5244 Artisans and craftspersons)

Supervisors, printing and related occupations (7303)

Textile printers (in 9441 Textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers)