Flat Glass Lamination Line Operator

Lee & Cates Glass; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

401(k)

Dental insurance

Career advancement

Job summary

Lee & Cates Glass in Jacksonville, FL is seeking a Lamination Line Operator to set up, operate, and maintain equipment for high-quality laminated glass. The role alternates between cleanroom assembly and mechanical operations on the production floor, ensuring safety and strict quality standards.

You will calibrate the line, verify glass and interlayers, monitor autoclave cycles, and perform inspections to detect defects.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1–2 years in manufacturing or assembly, preferably in glass or cleanrooms.
• Strong attention to detail with ability to spot defects.
• Ability to stand, lift up to 50 lbs, and operate in cleanroom and production areas.
• Experience reading production schedules and using basic machinery interfaces (HMI/PLC).

Responsibilities

• Set up and calibrate the laminated glass line, including washers, conveyors, pre-heat ovens, and nip rollers.
• Prepare and inspect glass plies and interlayers, ensuring cleanliness and defect-free surfaces.
• Program and operate interlayer cutting systems; align PVB or SentryGlas between plies in cleanroom.
• Manage de-airing and pre-pressing, adjusting speed, temp, and pressure for proper edge sealing.
• Support autoclave curing, monitor pressure and temperature for bonding clarity.
• Perform quality checks to meet ASTM/ANSI standards and maintain ISO cleanliness.
• Maintain equipment and follow PPE and cleanroom protocols.

Skills

Machinery Operation

Material Handling

Technical Accuracy

Cleanroom Discipline

Tools

Auto Clave

HMI

PLC

Overhead cranes

Job description

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance

Department:

Manufacturing / Production

Reports To:

Flat Glass Laminating Line Supervisor

Shift:

Day shift

Location:

Cleanroom & Production Floor

Position Summary

The Lamination Line Operator is responsible for setting up, operating, and maintaining specialized equipment used to manufacture high-quality laminated glass. This role alternates between cleanroom operations—where glass plies and interlayer materials (PVB/SGP) are assembled—and the mechanical operations of washing, pre-pressing, and autoclave processing. The operator ensures strict adherence to quality specifications, safety protocols, and industry compliance standards.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Equipment Setup & Calibration: Prepare and configure the glass laminating line, including glass washers, cleanroom assembly conveyors, infrared pre-heat ovens, and nip rollers according to job specifications.
• Material Preparation & Inspection: Verify glass types, thicknesses, and dimensions. Check glass surface for defects using tin-side detectors and ensure cleanroom-level cleanliness before lamination.
• Interlayer Assembly (Cleanroom): Program and operate interlayer cutting and positioning systems. Accurately align PVB, or SentryGlas interlayers between glass plies within the controlled cleanroom environment to prevent dust, lint, or moisture contamination.
• De-airing & Pre-pressing: Monitor and adjust parameters (speed, temperature, and pressure) of the nip roller or vacuum bag systems to ensure proper edge sealing and initial de-airing of the sandwich assembly.
• Autoclave Operations: Load pre-pressed glass onto racks and assist in managing the autoclave curing cycle (monitoring pressure and temperature curves) to achieve final clarity and bonding.
• Quality Control & Compliance: Perform regular visual and dimensional inspections to catch defects such as bubbles, delamination, or debris. Ensure all outputs meet standard industry benchmarks (e.g., ASTM C1172 or ANSI Z97.1).
• Maintenance & Cleaning: Perform basic preventative maintenance online machinery and strictly adhere to cleanroom gowning and sanitation protocols to maintain standard ISO class environment metrics.

Key Competencies & Technical Skills

• Machinery Operation: Experience operating automated flat glass processing machinery (washers, heating tunnels, nip rollers, vinyl cutter and Auto Clave).
• Material Handling: Proficiency using overhead cranes, vacuum suction lifters, and specialized glass handling equipment safely.
• Technical Accuracy: Ability to read production drawings, micrometers, tape measures, and digital control panels (PLCs).
• Cleanroom Discipline: Understanding of contamination control, static management, and environmental monitoring.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Ability to stand, walk, and perform repetitive tasks for the duration of a shift.
• Capability to lift and maneuver heavy glass sheets safely, adhering to team-lift thresholds.
• Comfort working in a dual environment: a temperature/humidity-controlled cleanroom (requiring full gowning) and a standard manufacturing floor.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 1–2 years of experience in a manufacturing or assembly environment; experience in glass manufacturing, cleanrooms, or high-precision assembly is highly preferred.
• Attention to Detail: Excellent visual acuity to spot minute surface defects, dust particles, or imperfections.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand for extended periods, lift up to 50 lbs. safely, and handle fragile, heavy materials using proper vacuum lifting equipment.
• Technical Aptitude: Ability to read production schedules, measure accurately, and operate basic computerized machinery interfaces (HMI).
• Safety Focus: Strict commitment to safety procedures, including the mandatory use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for glass handling (cut-resistant sleeves, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots outside the cleanroom).

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly wage 18.00 an hour or commensurate with your experience)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) matching program
• Paid time off (PTO) and holiday pay
• Opportunities for career advancement within our expanding production lines