Maintenance Technician

Maintenance Technician

VPET Plastics is seeking a skilled and motivated Maintenance Technician to join our manufacturing team. This position is responsible for installing, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining production equipment and facility systems to ensure safe, efficient, and continuous manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will have strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills with experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, preferably within the plastics industry.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on manufacturing equipment.
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and PLC-controlled systems.
• Diagnose equipment malfunctions and implement effective repairs to minimize downtime.
• Perform maintenance on plastic processing equipment including:
• Injection molding machines
• Blow molding machines
• Extrusion equipment
• Conveyors
• Compressors
• Chillers
• Material handling systems
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, blueprints, technical manuals, and mechanical drawings.
• Install, align, and calibrate new equipment and machinery.
• Perform welding, fabrication, machining, and equipment modifications as needed.
• Inspect equipment for safety and operational efficiency.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, and preventative maintenance documentation.
• Assist with facility maintenance including HVAC, plumbing, lighting, electrical systems, and building repairs.
• Respond promptly to emergency equipment breakdowns.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company safety policies, GMP requirements, and Lockout/Tagout procedures.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area following 5S principles.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to increase equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
• Communicate equipment issues and repair status with production leadership and fellow maintenance technicians.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Technical school, trade certification, or associate degree in Industrial Maintenance, Electrical Technology, Mechatronics, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of industrial maintenance experience.
• Plastics manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting abilities.
• Experience working with PLC-controlled equipment preferred.
• Ability to safely use hand tools, power tools, precision measuring instruments, and diagnostic equipment.
• Welding and fabrication experience is a plus.
• Forklift and aerial lift experience preferred.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Mechanical systems
• Electrical systems (120V480V)
• Pneumatic and hydraulic systems
• Bearings, gearboxes, motors, pumps, conveyors
• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
• PLC troubleshooting (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar)
• Preventive Maintenance (PM) systems
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles
• Lockout/Tagout procedures
• OSHA safety regulations
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to push, pull, twist, climb, balance, stoop, kneel and crawl.
• Must be able to perform repetitive motions such as reaching and grasping.
• Must be able to perform overhead reaching to stack / unstack boxes.
• Fast paced environment with constantly changing priorities.
• Work environment is in a warehouse and temperatures inside vary between hot or cold based on the outside conditions.

Work Environment:

• Manufacturing environment with moving machinery.
• Exposure to heat, humidity, dust, noise, oils, lubricants, and chemicals.
• Must be willing to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and on-call schedules as needed.
• Ability to work rotating 12-hour shifts or other assigned schedules.

Competitive Benefits:

• Medical (HMO), dental and vision insurance premium.
• 401k plan, Employer contributes 3%, up to 4%.
• Company offers vacation and sick pay.
• Holiday Pay: Eight (8) paid holidays per year.
• Basic Life Insurance Paid (25K policy).