Printing Machinist

Overview

Produces books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, posters, leaflets, packaging materials and stationery using printing presses.

Skills

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below. AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

Tasks

• setting, adjusting and monitoring substrate-feed mechanisms, delivery mechanisms, inking systems and other printing machine functions
• mixing ink and solvents to standard, and regulating paper and ink supply during print runs
• monitoring, evaluating and determining press operations manually and by computer to check print quality standards against proofs and detect malfunctions
• producing a variety of printed products using relief, lithographic, flexographic and gravure printing presses, and in-line finishing systems
• preparing plates, blankets and impression cylinders on small offset lithographic printing presses
• loading paper into feeding mechanisms
• monitoring machine operations and quality of printing
• undertaking maintenance, adjustment, repair and cleaning of machines
• producing and managing digital print images, and transferring and outputting images
• may set up and operate paper and bookbinding guillotines

Specialisations

• Flexographic Printing Machinist
• Gravure Printing Machinist
• Label Printing Machinist
• Letterpress Printing Machinist
• Lithographic Printing Machinist
• Reel Fed Printer
• Sheet Fed Printer

Related Occupations

• Small Offset Printer