Printing machinists set up and operate letterpress, lithographic, flexographic
and gravure printing presses. They work on a range of printed products
including packaging, stationery, greeting cards, books and newspapers,
depending on the printing method used.
-Offset lithography is the main process of printing and involves producing a print from a plate using a flat surface (planographic). It is used mainly in the production of newspapers, magazines, catalogues, cardboard packaging, books and general printed products.
-Letterpress printing is the oldest form of printing, in which ink is applied to a raised surface and transferred directly to paper through pressure. This process is used mainly as a specialised printing process. The types of printed material produced by this method include stationery and hot-foil stamped and embossed products.
-Flexographic printing uses a raised surface on a flexible rubber or photopolymer plate to produce flexible packaging such as bread bags and confectionary wrappers.
-Gravure printing uses a recessed cylinder to remove excess ink from the paper’s surface, producing an engraved design effect (intaglio). This process is used mainly for long-run packaging work designed for food and other consumables.
Printing machinists work in both small businesses and large manufacturing
companies, and with single and multi-colour printing presses.
How much can I expect to earn?
Full-time employed Printing Machinist earn an average of $1137 per week. The
[average annual salary for this job is $59124 excluding super.]
Personal requirements
enjoy practical and manual activities
good eyesight (may be corrected) and normal colour vision
good hand-eye coordination
able to carry out detailed work
mechanical aptitude.
This job also involves:
Mainly indoor work
Workers performing these jobs would usually be expected to spend more than
three-quarters of their day indoors, in an office, factory or other enclosed
area protected from the weather.
Reading or writing
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may
be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as
letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or
writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and
symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing
skills.
This occupation offers jobs at the following skill levels:
Skilled Trade Jobs
These jobs do not usually require completion of secondary education, however
further part-time study usually at Certificate III level, and on-the-job
training offered as an apprenticeship, is required.
Study requirements
At school, you can study these subject(s) to get a good foundation for this
occupation:
Art
School subjects that include some aspect of ART provide a useful background to
these jobs. In some cases an art-related subject is a pre-requisite for entry
to courses that provide the training for the job.
Industrial Arts
School subjects that include some aspect of INDUSTRIAL ARTS provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases an industrial arts-related subject is
a pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Duties and tasks of a Printing Machinist
Printing machinists may perform the following tasks:
make printing plates
fit printing plates or cylinders on presses, mix the inks that are applied to them and adjust the colour flow to the image
adjust the paper-feeding devices that separate and feed sheets through the machine