A Shift Flexo Press Helper

Flexo Press Helper

The Flexo Press Helper supports the press team by staging materials, assisting with press setup, and maintaining a clean, safe work area. This role ensures smooth production by handling substrates, monitoring quality, and communicating issues promptly. It's ideal for individuals with mechanical aptitude and a desire to grow within flexographic printing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Press Setup & Preparation:

• Assist in setting up the press by gathering and preparing necessary materials, including substrates, plates, inks, and dies.
• Mount printing plates and assist with anilox roller preparation.
• Load and align rolls of material onto the press, ensuring proper web tension and tracking.
• Assist in verifying job tickets, ensuring correct specifications before production begins.

Production Support:

• Monitor the press operation during runs, checking for quality issues such as misregistration, ink smudging, die-cut alignment, or other defects.
• Communicate with the Press Operator and Lead regarding any irregularities or malfunctions that arise during printing.
• Assist in performing basic press adjustments under the direction of the Press Lead.
• Help ensure smooth operation by keeping workstations stocked with necessary tools and supplies.

Quality Control & Troubleshooting:

• Inspect finished labels and printed materials for defects, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
• Assist in making adjustments to correct minor issues, such as cleaning anilox rollers or replacing doctor blades.
• Work alongside the Quality Assurance team to confirm ink color accuracy and press performance.

Material Handling & Waste Management:

• Handle raw material movement, including staging rolls, disposing of waste properly, and recycling used materials where applicable.
• Help minimize material waste by following best practices in job setup and press adjustments.
• Assist in tracking material usage and reporting inconsistencies to the production team.

Press Maintenance & Cleanliness:

• Assist in performing routine cleaning and maintenance of press components, including rollers, ink trays, and die stations.
• Help ensure proper storage and handling of inks, plates, and other printing materials.
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment, adhering to company safety protocols.

Responsibilities Breakdown:

• Press setup & staging: 25%
• Press support during production: 35%
• Cleanup & maintenance: 20%
• Quality checks & communication: 10%
• Documentation & training: 10%

Press Helper Key Responsibilities:

1. Material Handling Support

• Stage inks (pre-mixed or base colors), Anilox rolls (by ID and BCM), plates (mounted or unmounted), dies, matrix sleeves, and all consumables the operator requests.
• Keep the staging areas, ink washup area, and immediate floor space around each press organized and free of trip hazards at all times.
• Rotate stock using FIFO (first-in, first-out) and report any damaged rolls or low stock levels to lead before they become a problem.
• Pull 10,000-ft master rolls of paper stock from inventory using the forklift or pallet jack, stage them safely at the correct press unwind stand, and confirm the job ticket matches the stock before the operator loads the roll.
• Transport finished printed rolls, waste rolls, and matrix waste to the designated staging or rewind areas without damaging edges or cores.
• Stage cores for the press

2. Makeready & Changeover Support

• Help Mount Flexo plates and dies. Load/unload anilox and connect ink hoses safely.
• Assist with web threading on the press as directed.
• Wipe down stations, clean doctor blades, and prepare the ink pans for the next run while the current job is still printing. Clean previous pans
• Keep all consumables full at presses.

3. Cleanup & Housekeeping

• Perform full end-of-job wash-up: drain ink trays and chambers, wipe all stations, inspect and clean blades, empty drip pans and trays.
• Remove and safely dispose of waste matrix, and trash as needed.
• Keep the entire press dept, make ready area, and plate mounting area clean and up to 5s standard.

4. In-Run Support

• Continuously monitor supplies during runs and replenish inks, additives, and cleaning supplies without the press stopping
• Assist with roll changes on unwind and rewind: loading new cores, making splices.

5. Shift Handover & Documentation

• Give a clear, concise handover to the oncoming helper and operator: current job status, materials staged, any issues, and what still needs to be pulled for each press.
• Note any recurring supply or equipment issues on the shift log so the lead can address them.
• Help update the press-side visual board (what's running, next job, materials needed).

Qualifications & Skills Required:

• Experience: Previous manufacturing or printing experience is beneficial but not required. Willingness to learn is key.
• Attention to Detail: Ability to identify inconsistencies, defects, or quality issues during production.
• Mechanical Aptitude: Comfort with handling tools, making minor mechanical adjustments, and learning press operation fundamentals.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand for extended periods, bend, reach, and perform hands-on tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Team Player Mentality: Strong communication skills and a willingness to collaborate with press operators and other team members.
• Safety Awareness: Understanding of and commitment to workplace safety protocols.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-encompassing list of responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this position. It is intended to be a guideline reflecting the principal activities.