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Printing press operators

National Occupation Code (NOC): 73401

Printing press operators set up and operate sheet and web-fed presses to print text, illustrations and designs on a wide variety of materials such as paper, plastic, glass, leather and metal. They are employed by commercial printing companies; newspapers, magazines, and other publishing companies; and establishments in the public and private sectors that have in-house printing departments. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

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Job Duties for Printing press operators

  • Review job orders to determine job specifications such as production time, colour sequence and quantities required, and advise press crew of these specifications
  • Mount plates or cylinders and make necessary adjustments
  • Fill ink fountains and take measurements, make adjustments and determine settings to control colour and viscosity
  • Set up press and check samples for ink coverage, alignment and registration
  • Monitor regular press runs for quality and consistency using computer control console and make adjustments as required
  • Remove and clean plates and cylinders at end of press run
  • Direct activities of press crew and ensure that safety procedures are adhered to.

Employment Requirements for Printing press operators

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a college program in printing technology or a combination of on-the-job training and specialized high school, college or industry courses is usually required.
  • Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Québec.

Alternate Job Titles

  • Apprentice Press Operator
  • Apprentice Press Operator - Printing
  • Apprentice Pressman/woman
  • Apprentice Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Apprentice Printing Press Operator
  • Assistant Press Operator - Printing
  • Assistant Pressman/woman
  • Assistant Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Commercial Press Operator
  • Cylinder Press Operator - Printing
  • Cylinder Press Set-up Operator
  • Cylinder Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Cylinder Printing Press Set-up Operator
  • First Press Operator - Printing
  • First Pressman/woman
  • First Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Flat-bed Press Set-up Operator
  • Flexographic Press Adjuster
  • Flexographic Press Operator
  • Flexographic Press Set-up Technician - Printing
  • Flexographic Pressman/woman
  • Gravure Press Operator
  • Gravure Pressman/woman
  • Gravure Printer - Printing
  • Gravure Printing Press Operator
  • Gravure Proof Press Operator - Printing
  • Gravure Proof Puller - Printing
  • Gravure Proof Wallpaper Puller
  • Ink Evaluation And Press Operator - Printing
  • Ink Evaluation Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Intaglio Printer - Printing
  • Intaglio Printing Press Operator
  • Job Printer
  • Letterpress Operator - Printing
  • Letterpress Proof Press Operator - Printing
  • Letterpress Proof Puller - Printing
  • Lithographic Offset Proofer
  • Lithographic Offset Proofing Hand
  • Lithographic Press Operator - Printing
  • Lithographic Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Lithographic Printer
  • Newspaper Press Operator
  • Newspaper Pressman/woman
  • Offset Lithographic Proof Press Operator - Printing
  • Offset Machine Operator
  • Offset Press Operator
  • Offset Press Operator - Printing
  • Offset Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Offset Printer
  • Photoengraved Plate Proof Press Operator - Printing
  • Photoengraved Plate Proof Puller - Printing
  • Plastic Sheet Offset Press Operator
  • Platen Press Operator - Printing
  • Platen Press Tender
  • Press Operator - Printing
  • Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Printer
  • Printing Press Assistant Operator
  • Printing Press Operator
  • Printing Technologist
  • Proof Press Operator
  • Proof Press Operator - Printing
  • Proof Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Proofer - Printing
  • Proofing Hand - Printing
  • Proofing Press Operator
  • Rotary Offset Press Operator
  • Rotary Press Operator
  • Rotogravure Press Operator - Printing
  • Rotogravure Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Rotoprinter - Printing
  • Senior Press Operator - Printing
  • Senior Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Sheet Metal Lithographic Press Operator
  • Sheet Metal Lithographic Pressman/woman
  • Thermographic Printer
  • Wallpaper Gravure Proof Press Operator
  • Wallpaper Rotogravure Press Operator
  • Web Press Operator - Printing
  • Web Pressman/woman - Printing
  • Large Format Print Operator