Flexographic Print Operative

dssmith

Belper CP

On-site

GBP 33,000 - 40,000

Full time

6 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

DS Smith pension

Death in service life assurance

Company sick pay

Income protection

Employee assistance programme

Occupational health including physi<br

Job summary

DS Smith Belper site is seeking an experienced Flexographic Print Operative to join our production team. You will operate wide web flexographic presses, set up jobs, monitor quality, and contribute to continuous improvement while meeting safety standards.

You will work a 3-shift pattern (6am-2pm, 10pm-6am, 2pm-10pm) and help drive efficiency, waste reduction and on-time delivery to customers. Training will raise your earnings as you become proficient.

Qualifications

Puts safety first and follows SSOW and procedures.
Experience operating printing presses in manufacturing/packaging.
Strong understanding of print processes, colour management and print quality standards.
Experience with print fault finding and problem solving.
Ability to work independently and make sound operational decisions.
High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
Safety-focused approach and proactive in identifying hazards.
Knowledge of production performance measures, waste reduction and efficiency improvement.

Responsibilities

Accountable for own and others health and safety while at work; adhere to SSOW and procedures.
Raise unsafe acts immediately and report health and safety incidents.
Operate and optimise wide web flexographic printing presses safely and efficiently.
Set up printing jobs (inks, plates, sleeves, anilox rolls, substrates, press settings).
Ensure print quality meets customer specifications and standards.
Monitor colour consistency, registration, and press performance during runs.
Troubleshoot print and mechanical issues to minimise downtime and waste.
Carry out routine maintenance, cleaning and housekeeping of equipment.
Collaborate with production, quality and maintenance teams.
Support continuous improvement to boost productivity and efficiency.
Maintain accurate production records and documentation.

Skills

Safety-first

Printing presses

Print processes

Colour management

Print quality standards

Fault finding

Independent worker

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Waste reduction

Efficiency improvement

Education

Relevant print industry qualifications

Job description

Flexographic Print Operative

Salary: Starting £32,950, raising to £39,863 once trained

Hours: Working a 3-shift pattern (6am to 2pm, 10pm to 6am, 2pm to 10pm)

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and accomplished wide web flexographic printer to join our team at our Belper site.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled print professional who takes pride in producing high-quality work, maintaining excellent machine performance, and driving continuous improvement. You will play a key role in ensuring that customer requirements are met through the efficient operation of our flexographic printing equipment, delivering exceptional print quality while maximising productivity and minimising waste.

Health & Safety is our number one priority and therefore you will be accountable for your own health and the health and safety of others, operating in line with safe systems of work (SSOW) and company procedures, immediately raising any unsafe acts with those concerned and reporting health and safety incidents to management, to ultimately help create a safe working environment for all.

As part of a highly skilled production team, you will be responsible for setting up, operating, monitoring, and maintaining the printing press to consistently achieve quality, efficiency, and performance targets.

Key responsibilities include

To be accountable for own and others health and safety whilst at work, operating in line with SSOW (safe systems of work) and company procedures to enable a safe working environment.
To raise any unsafe acts seen immediately with individual(s) concerned and immediate reporting of health and safety incidents to management.
Operate and optimise wide web flexographic printing presses safely and efficiently.
Set up printing jobs, including inks, plates, sleeves, anilox rolls, substrates, and press settings.
Ensure print quality meets customer specifications and company standards.
Monitor colour consistency, print registration, and overall press performance throughout production runs.
Troubleshoot print and mechanical issues to minimise downtime and waste.
Complete routine maintenance, cleaning, and housekeeping activities to ensure equipment reliability.
Work closely with colleagues across production, quality, and maintenance departments.
Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, quality, and operational efficiency.
Maintain accurate production records and documentation.

About you

Minimum requirements:

Puts safety first
Proven experience operating printing presses within a manufacturing or packaging environment.
Strong understanding of print processes, colour management, and print quality standards.
Experience with print fault finding and problem solving.
Ability to work independently and make sound operational decisions.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
Positive, proactive, and safety-focused approach.
Good understanding of production performance measures, waste reduction, and efficiency improvement.

Preferred requirements:

Knowledge of CI flexographic presses.
Mechanical aptitude and first-line maintenance experience.
Experience working within Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement environments.
Relevant print industry qualifications.

Benefits