Profession blow moulding machine operator

Blow moulding machine operators operate and monitor blow moulding machine to mould plastic goods, according to requirements. They regulate temperature, air pressure and volume of plastic, according to specifications. Blow moulding machine operators remove finished products and cut away excess material, using a knife. They regrind surplus material and rejected workpieces for reuse, using a grinding machine.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional
• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Blow moulding

  The three main techniques to create hollow plastic and glass parts, namely extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding and injection stretch blow molding.

• Plastic resins

  The process of heating hydrocarbons, forming and combining polymers to create plastic resins which are used to make different kinds of products.

• Blow moulding machine parts

  Parts of the machine that produces plastic products such as bottles by injecting air under high pressure into heated preforms placed into moulds, such as the hopper, the extruder, the die head and the mould.

• Quality standards

  The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.

Skills

• Monitor automated machines

  Continuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.

• Tend blow moulding machine

  Monitor, set-up and adjust the blow moulding machine controls and mandrel using the control panel or handtools in order to mould plastic products according to specifications.

• Consult technical resources

  Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.

• Set up the controller of a machine

  Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.

• Monitor gauge

  Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.

• Troubleshoot

  Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

• Use personal protection equipment

  Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.

• Monitor valves

  Monitor and accordingly adjust the valves in order to allow a specific amount of liquids (such as ammonia sulfuric acid or viscous soap) or steam into the mixer or machine.

• Trim excess material

  Trim surplus material of fabric such as fiberglass mats, cloth, plastics or rubber.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB