Summary
This apprenticeship provides a rare opportunity to work alongside production, team leaders and operators and under the mentorship of our Senior Pre-Press Engineer you will learn to fully understand the pre and post-printing processes.
Wage
£15,704 a year
Training course
Print technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 16:30
40 hours a week
Possible start date
Monday 10 March
Duration
3 years
Positions available
1
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
* Setting up digital print machinery
* Checking print and image quality through nozzle and uniformity checks
* Calibration of digital print machinery, e.g. print head voltages, registration and stitching, machine profiling
* Understanding colour matching and colour ways with the help of the Op
* Gain an in-depth understanding of Adobe Suite Program such as, Photoshop and Illustrator
* Colour matching along matching alongside lead op and pre-press engineer
* Diagnose and resolve colour management or printing problems / respond to any system issues including alerts / stops etc
* Gaining an understanding of pre-press colour matching with the help of the pre-press engineer
* Understanding spectrophotometry and ink densities. General machine maintenance
* Operation of UV curing lamps
* Ensure all consumables such as inks are replenished as and when required to ensure maximum uptime / output. Understanding digital inkjet systems mechanically and through software
* Gaining an understanding of UV ink and coating viscosities and temperatures and how they impact colour and quality
* General inspection of product, identifying any issues with the print that could be from the digital print machine
* Understanding print faults
* Gaining an understanding of the other processes involved in production zone and how all the processes come together to ensure a high-quality print output
* Liaise with the team to help resolve/improve any print or colour issues
Role Objective:
* Operate equipment to process raw materials into finished products while meeting safety, productivity, quality, cost, and service requirements
* Aid and ensure all product are produced at the highest standard in terms of colour and consistency
* Demonstrate ability and willingness to perform multiple job functions effectively
* Perform manufacturing operations in accordance with SOP and work instructions
* Actively support continuous improvement and Lean activities involved with the LS implementation
* Operate machine control screens, material handling, and packing & shipping equipment
* Perform quality checks and record results
* Proactively respond to any quality deviation
* Perform operator maintenance and assist with other maintenance activities
* To become fully conversant with Adobe Suite programs such as, Illustrator and Photoshop, along with an in depth understanding of image creation, design and colour matching
* To become an allrounder within the AST team, through pre-print, print, post print and coating operations
* Process orders via computer/manual systems and respond to internal and/or external inquires in a professional manner
Where you’ll work
Wilsonart
Lambton Street
Shildon
County Durham
DL4 1PX
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
BPIF TRAINING LIMITED
Your training course
Print technician (level 3)
Equal to A level
Course contents
* Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards for example, segregating resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
* Apply health and safety and manual handling procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
* Plan and prioritise work
* Record or enter information - paper based or electronic for example, work sheets, check lists, handover records, job sheets.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
* Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
* Communicate with others verbally including colleagues or stakeholders.
* Communicate in writing.
* Apply problem-solving techniques to common problems.
* Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
* Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
* Apply team working principles.
* Convert customer files to print-ready files using software and workflow packages.
* Check, process and transmit digital files using software.
* Create and edit digital images.
* Conversion of digital files into colour separations for the defined production method.
* Apply digital techniques to produce a proof.
* Apply colour profiles to the design.
* Apply production techniques to produce plates, screens, or output files.
* Apply pre-press quality assurance procedures.
* Set up and check the multi-unit print press, including speeds, inks and toners and pre-printing quality checks.
* Follow print press start up or warm up procedures.
* Apply print press operations and techniques, including managing colour. Handle variable data on digital presses.
* Follow quality control processes during printing, including checking for colour matching, print resolution, product consistency.
* Apply press equipment and machinery maintenance techniques including cleaning and servicing.
* Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, hand over procedures. Escalate issues.
* Apply press quality assurance procedures.
* Apply safe systems of work to the printing press process in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidelines. This should include identifying risks and hazards and the handling and disposal of chemicals.
* Set up finishing equipment for example, guillotines, stitching-trimming machinery, binding machinery, laminating equipment, die-cutters.
* Operate finishing equipment to apply different finishing processes, for example, varnishing, folding, embossing and debossing, foil blocking, scoring, packing, gluing, match and attach, tab and slot, sorting, banding.
* Prepare printing for next stage, including packing and wrapping.
* Apply post-press equipment maintenance techniques including cleaning and servicing.
* Apply post-press quality assurance procedures such as checking for folding accuracy, stitch alignment, foil position.
* Apply safe systems of work to the finishing process in compliance with regulations, standards and guidelines, including the handling and disposal of chemicals.
* Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards for example, segregating resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
* Apply health and safety and manual handling procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
* Plan and prioritise work
* Record or enter information - paper based or electronic for example, work sheets, check lists, handover records, job sheets.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
* Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
* Communicate with others verbally including colleagues or stakeholders.
* Communicate in writing.
* Apply problem-solving techniques to common problems.
* Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
* Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
* Apply team working principles.
Your training plan
* Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship the qualification achieved will be a Level 3 Print Technician
* Throughout your time as an apprentice, you will be supported by both your employer and BPIF Training
* You will be assigned a training coordinator to ensure that you have the best training available
* Training requirements will be discussed at the point of employment to suit both your own and business needs
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
* English (grade 4)
* Maths (grade 4)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Initiative
* Team working