Printing press operators – NOC : 7381

Unit Group

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.

Example Titles

apprentice pressman/woman

assistant pressman/woman

first pressman/woman

flexographic press operator

offset press operator

printing press operator

rotogravure pressman/woman – printing

View all titles

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 Quebec.

Additional information

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

Classified elsewhere

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 )