Profession paper pulp moulding operator

Paper pulp moulding operators tend a machine that moulds paper pulp in various shapes, usually for use in lightweight but sturdy packaging material, such as egg boxes.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Types of moulded fibres

  Field of information which distinguishes different kinds of moulded fibres such as thickwall, transfer moulded, thermoformed, and processed fibre types.

• Types of pulp

  Kinds of pulp are distinguished based on their fibre type and the specific chemical processes through which they were created.

• 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

• Wear appropriate protective gear

  Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.

• Monitor pulp quality

  Avoid lesser quality and lower grades of recycled paper and pulp by keeping an eye open for stickies, plastics, colour, unbleached fibres, brightness, and dirt.

• 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.

• Troubleshoot

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

• Monitor conveyor belt

  Monitor the flow of the work pieces on the conveyor belt as they are processed by the machine to ensure optimal productivity.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Operate pulp moulding machine

  Shape paperboard flats by using formation moulds, which vacuum pulp and windsoft the excess material. Transfer the materials to a conveyor belt. Apply waterproof lubricants so the flats won't stick to the mould and put the flats in an oven, after which the rigid material is stacked and made ready to be packaged.

• Work safely with machines

  Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.

• Maintain mould parts

  Carry out minor repair tasks and maintenance of moulds and mould parts.

• Use moulding techniques

  Apply moulding techniques.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB