Profession offset printer

Offset printers handle an offset press in order to print an image. The offset press transfers an inked image from the plate to a rubber blanket before to print it onto the printing surface.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Offset printing

  Technological printing process where the ink is spread onto a plate with etched images, then to a rubber blanket, and finally onto the target medium, usually paper. This method is used for mass printing on large scales.

• 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.

• Polygraphy

  Production branch that handles reproduction of text and images by printing.

• Types of paper

  The different criteria used to determine differences in paper types such as coarseness and thickness, and the different fabrication methods and wood types from which the types of paper stem.

• Printing techniques

  The techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.

• Printing on large scale machines

  Methods, processes, and restrictions related to printing on machines that produce large quantities and sizes of graphic print materials.

Skills

• Supply machine

  Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.

• Produce prepress proof

  Make single or multi-coloured test prints to ensure that the product meets the arranged standards. Compare the sample with the template or discuss the result with the customer in order to make the last adjustments before mass production.

• 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.

• Follow safety precautions in printing

  Apply safety and health principles, policies and institutional regulations of working in printing production. Protect oneself and others against such hazards as chemicals used in printing, invasive allergens, heat, and disease causing agents.

• Troubleshoot

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

• Prepare offset printing machine

  Adjust, set, and prepare machines for offset printing by calibrating each part of the machine.

• Prepare printing form

  Prepare and inspect plates that are used in printing process to transfer ink on the desired surface and place them in the machines, for example fixing them around printing rollers.

• Follow production schedule

  Follow production schedule taking into account all requirements, times and needs. This schedule outlines what individual commodities must be produced in each time period and encapsulates various concerns like production, staffing, inventory, etc. It is usually linked to manufacturing where the plan indicates when and how much of each product will be demanded. Utilise all the information in the actual implementation of the plan.

• Operate offset printing machine

  Operate controlling and exposure units of the offset printing machine, set the laser exposure unit; and tend the development line.

• Perform test run

  Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.

• 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.

• Clean ink rollers

  Clean ink roller and type using ink solvent and rags.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB