National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011
Introduction

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.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • apprentice pressman/woman
    • assistant pressman/woman
    • first pressman/woman
    • flexographic press operator
    • offset press operator
    • printing press operator
    • rotogravure pressman/woman - printing

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Operators of laser printers, colour and large copiers and printing machines (See 9471 Plateless printing equipment operators)
    • Screen printing artisans (See 5244 Artisans and craftspersons)
    • Supervisors, printing and related occupations (7303)
    • Textile printers (See 9441 Textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers)

  • Main duties

    Printing press operators perform 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.
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