Production Technician

A-SAFE UK; Elland; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured training

Clear progression

On-site role

Job summary

A-SAFE UK in Halifax, Elland, HX5 9JP, is seeking a Production Technician to set up injection moulding machines and extrusion lines, troubleshoot during shifts and ensure quality, safety, and output targets are met.

You will work in a small shift team, develop hands-on skills across plastics processes, and progress through a published technical pay scale with training and internal development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Hands-on process experience in injection moulding or extrusion.
• The ability to start up and run a process unsupervised, following safe working practices.
• Confidence diagnosing and resolving process and tooling faults, and knowing when to elevate.
• Experience of tool and material changes, and a working knowledge of process conditions such as material drying and barrel temperatures.
• The ability to interpret technical drawings and work to standard operating procedures.
• A clear understanding of health and safety in a manufacturing environment.
• Happy to work a continental shift pattern - four on, four off, 7am to 7pm.
• Experience across both injection moulding and extrusion is desirable, as is exposure to rotational moulding or PU elastomer processes.
• CNC or robot programming experience is desirable but not essential - it is something you can gain here.
• A certificate within injection moulding, or NVQ Level 3 in mould tools and processes, is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Start up and monitor injection moulding machines and extrusion lines, setting them to the specified conditions with as little scrap as possible.
• Troubleshoot process issues as they arise, working out the cause and putting it right, and escalating to your team leader where a decision needs to sit with them.
• Carry out tool changes and material changes, and set feed systems and tool temperature control units.
• Run first-off samples and carry out initial quality checks using the relevant gauges and equipment, interpreting the results and taking corrective action before a process is released.
• Optimise processes in line with standard operating procedures, contributing to cycle time and scrap reduction.
• Undertake minor reactive maintenance on machinery and tooling, such as oil levels and cleanliness.
• Complete and submit production and performance documentation accurately, keeping process records up to date when changes are made.
• Take and give a thorough shift handover, so the incoming team knows exactly where things stand against the plan.
• Work closely with operatives, supervisors, maintenance, quality and process engineering to keep production moving.
• Make sure health and safety guidelines are followed at all times, and that 5S and housekeeping standards are maintained.
• Work through a structured training and sign-off programme, building evidence towards the next grade on our technical pay scale.

Skills

Injection moulding

Extrusion

Process troubleshooting

Tool changes

Material changes

Reading drawings

Health and safety

Communication

Problem solving

CNC programming

Education

NVQ Level 3 in mould tools and processes

Certificate in Injection Moulding

Job description

Job Description

Location: Halifax, Elland, HX5 9JP

Working Pattern: Full-time, On-site, continental shift - four on, four off, 7am to 7pm

careers.asafe.com

Are you a plastics processing technician who takes pride in getting a line running right first time, enjoys getting to the bottom of a process problem, and wants a clear, published route to the next grade rather than a vague promise of progression?

As a Production Technician at A-SAFE, you'll be the person who makes sure our production lines start correctly, run to condition and keep running through the shift. This is a hands-on process role where your judgement directly affects quality, scrap and output on products used to protect people in industrial environments worldwide.

You’ll work as part of a close shift team alongside operatives, maintenance, quality and process engineering, setting up injection moulding machines and extrusion lines to the required conditions and troubleshooting issues as they arise. This is not a maintenance role and it is not machine operating - it is the technical judgement in between.

How you will make an impact

• You'll start up and monitor injection moulding machines and extrusion lines, setting them to the specified conditions with as little scrap as possible.


• You'll troubleshoot process issues as they arise, working out the cause and putting it right, and escalating to your team leader where a decision needs to sit with them.


• You'll carry out tool changes and material changes, and set feed systems and tool temperature control units.


• You'll run first-off samples and carry out initial quality checks using the relevant gauges and equipment, interpreting the results and taking corrective action before a process is released.


• You'll optimise processes in line with standard operating procedures, contributing to cycle time and scrap reduction.


• You'll undertake minor reactive maintenance on machinery and tooling, such as oil levels and cleanliness.


• You'll complete and submit production and performance documentation accurately, keeping process records up to date when changes are made.


• You'll take and give a thorough shift handover, so the incoming team knows exactly where things stand against the plan.


• You'll work closely with operatives, supervisors, maintenance, quality and process engineering to keep production moving.


• You'll make sure health and safety guidelines are followed at all times, and that 5S and housekeeping standards are maintained.


• You'll work through a structured training and sign-off programme, building evidence towards the next grade on our technical pay scale.

What we are looking for

• Hands-on process experience in either injection moulding or extrusion. You do not need both - most of our team joined with one and learned the other here.


• The ability to start up and run a process unsupervised, following safe working practices.


• Confidence diagnosing and resolving process and tooling faults, and knowing when to elevate.


• Experience of tool and material changes, and a working knowledge of process conditions such as material drying and barrel temperatures.


• The ability to interpret technical drawings and work to standard operating procedures.


• A clear understanding of health and safety in a manufacturing environment.


• Happy to work a continental shift pattern - four on, four off, 7am to 7pm.


• Experience across both injection moulding and extrusion is desirable, as is exposure to rotational moulding or PU elastomer processes.


• CNC or robot programming experience is desirable but not essential - it is something you can gain here.


• A certificate within injection moulding, or NVQ Level 3 in mould tools and processes, is desirable.

You’ll also bring

• Strong communication skills - handovers, sample sign-offs and working with quality and engineering make this a genuinely communicative role.


• A methodical, questioning approach to problems, and the patience to find the real cause rather than the quick fix.


• Resilience and a willingness to learn our products and tooling from the ground up, however much experience you arrive with.


• Pride in quality and attention to detail, particularly around paperwork and process records.


• A collaborative, team-focused approach - you'll be one of five on shift and the team depends on each other.


• The ambition to progress, and the self-discipline to work through the training programme and evidence your development.

Why you’ll love working with us

You’ll join a shift team of five - a team leader and four technicians - working across a genuinely varied set of processes, including injection moulding, extrusion, rotational moulding, PU elastomer, CNC machining and robotics. There is real scope to broaden your technical range rather than repeat the same task.

Progression here is published, not promised. Our technical pay scale sets out exactly what you need to demonstrate at each grade, from Setter through to Technician 4, with defined assessments, minimum time at grade and sign-off from a production or process engineer. Meet the criteria and the next grade follows. Training is funded and includes external courses, and at the top of the scale you'll be mentoring the technicians coming up behind you.

You’ll be properly inducted, with time shadowing an experienced technician so you learn our products and tooling before you’re expected to run with them. We invest in our people, and our commitment to filling at least half of our vacancies through internal development and promotion means the route on from here is a well-travelled one.

If you enjoy solving process problems, want your technical development mapped out clearly, and like working four on, four off pattern that gives you real time back, this role is for you.

Why A-SAFE?

Since 1984, A-SAFE has been a pioneer in industrial safety, inventing the world’s first industrial-strength polymer safety barrier. Today, we continue to lead the industry with cutting-edge solutions like our award-winning IoT system, RackEye. Learn more about ourCustomer Success Stories here.

At A-SAFE we put our values at the heart of the business.

• We Are Pioneers


• We Are in it Together


• We Do the Right Thing

Our Commitment to Diversity

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. At A-SAFE, we believe our differences fuel innovation and enrich our work environment.

Ready to help us set new standards in workplace safety?