Production Operator - Blowmould

Lactalis Australia; Sunshine Coast Regional; On-site; AUD 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full training and development

Stable full-time employment

Competitive hourly rates and shiftPenl

Supportive team environment

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Lactalis Australia is seeking a Machine Operator for a fast-paced plastics manufacturing environment in Queensland. On-the-job training provided with progression to a Machine Operator role. Roles operate on a 12-hour roster with day (6am–6pm) or night (6pm–6am) shifts.

You will set up, run, and monitor extrusion and injection blow moulding machines, ensuring quality and efficiency. Applicants should have experience in plastic manufacturing or related production, strong mechanical aptitude, and

Qualifications

• Experience in plastic manufacturing or production environments is desirable.
• Experience operating extrusion blow molding and/or injection blow molding machines is advantageous.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn machine operations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment.
• Good attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Physically fit and able to perform manual handling tasks.
• Reliable transport.
• Strong communication skills and a team-oriented attitude.

Responsibilities

• Set up, start up, operate and monitor extrusion blow moulding and injection blow moulding machines.
• Install and change moulds, dies and tooling for different bottle specs.
• Adjust machine settings (temperature, air pressure, extrusion speed, cooling, cycle times).
• Monitor performance and make adjustments to maintain quality and minimize waste.
• Perform first-off, in-process and final quality inspections on PET bottles.
• Identify and rectify moulding defects (flash, short shots, warping, sink marks, leaks).
• Carry out routine machine changeovers and support product changeovers.
• Complete basic preventative maintenance, lubrication, cleaning and minor troubleshooting.
• Record production data, downtime, quality checks and material usage.
• Work with Production Coordinators and Quality team to meet targets and specs.
• Maintain housekeeping and safety standards.
• Support Operators by supplying packaging materials during runs.
• Perform general production and manual handling duties as required.
• Inspect finished products for defects and contamination.

Skills

Plastic manufacturing experience

Mechanical aptitude

Teamwork

Attention to quality

Physical fitness

Job description

• Be part of a supportive team focused on safety and quality

About Lactalis-Mainland Dairy

Mainland Dairy, the business formerly known as Fonterra’s global Consumer and associated businesses, is now part of the Lactalis Group and known as Lactalis-Mainland Dairy.

Lactalis is a French family-owned business founded in Laval in 1933. Today, it is the world’s leading dairy group, present in 50 countries employing around 85,500 people. It is home to some of the world’s best known global and international dairy brands, including Président, Galbani and Parmalat, and local brands including Pauls, OAK, and Cracker Barrel in Australia.

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy is a team of more than 4,300 employees, operating 16 manufacturing sites across Oceania, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. We make well-loved brands including PerfectItaliano, Mainland, and Western Star.

Our passionate and talented team is committed to nurturing the future, unlocking new opportunities, and fostering innovation in nutrition and food.

About the Opportunity:

Lactalis Australia is seekinga Machine Operator to join a fast-paced food plastics manufacturing environment. Successful candidates will receive on-the-job training before progressing into a Machine Operator role.

This role operates on a 12-hour Monday to Sunday shift roster, with opportunities to work either Day Shift (6am - 6pm) or Night Shift (6pm - 6am).

Key Responsibilities

• Set up, start up, operate, and monitor extrusion blow moulding and injection blow moulding machines.
• Install and change moulds, dies, and tooling to accommodate different bottle and container specifications.
• Adjust machine settings including temperature profiles, air pressure, extrusion speed, cooling, and cycle times to ensure efficient production.
• Monitor machine performance and make process adjustments to maintain product quality and minimize waste.
• Perform first-off, in-process, and final quality inspections on PET bottles.
• Identify and rectify common moulding defects such as flash, short shots, warping, sink marks, poor neck finish, dimensional variations, and leaks.
• Carry out routine machine changeovers and assist with product changeovers according to production schedules.
• Complete basic preventative maintenance, lubrication, cleaning, and minor troubleshooting of machinery.
• Record production data, downtime, quality checks, and material usage accurately.
• Work closely with the Production Coordinators and Quality team to meet production targets and customer specifications.
• Maintain housekeeping standards and ensure all work is carried out in accordance with workplace health and safety procedures.
• Support Machine Operators by supplying packaging materials and assisting during production runs.
• Perform general production and manual handling duties as required.
• Inspect finished products for visual defects, contamination, and quality issues.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Experience in plastic manufacturing, production, or processing environments is highly regarded.
• Experience operating extrusion blow molding and/or injection blow molding machines is an advantage.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn machine operations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment.
• Good attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Physically fit and able to perform manual handling tasks.
• Reliable transport.
• Strong communication skills and a team-oriented attitude
• Reliable transport and the ability to work 12-hour day or night shifts.

What We Offer

• Full training and ongoing development opportunities.
• Stable full-time employment.
• Competitive hourly rates and applicable shift penalties.
• A supportive team environment.
• Opportunities for career progression within a growing manufacturing business.

Our Commitment Lactalis-Mainland Dairy is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, or ability. Please note that applicants must have full working rights for Australia to be considered. We are politely declining recruitment agency support and approaches for this role.