Flatbed Press Operator

Ōnin Staffing; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

$5 doctor’s visit copays

Free teledoctor service

Free counseling services

Life insurance included

Vision insurance included

Dental insurance included

Vacation and holiday pay

Free legal services

Employee discount program

Job summary

Onin Staffing in Nashville, TN is seeking a precise, quality-driven Flatbed Press Operator to join our converting team. You will set up, calibrate, and run industrial flatbed die-cutting presses to convert elastomeric foams, rubbers, plastics, and adhesives into custom gaskets and seals.

Ideal candidates have 1–2 years of die-cutting experience, can read engineering prints, and maintain tight tolerances. ISO 9001 background and safe, 5S-compliant practices are a plus.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1–2 years operating flatbed die-cutting presses.
• Ability to read engineering prints and cut sheets.
• Experience with steel-rule dies and punch tooling.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Review daily job packets, engineering prints, material specifications, and production schedules prior to run setup.
• Mount, shim, level, and align flatbed steel-rule dies, male/female stripping fixtures, and cutting plates to ensure even tonnage and clean, complete cuts.
• Set machine parameters, including platen stroke depth, cutting pressure, dwell time, feed roll advance, and knock-out/ejection mechanisms.
• Feed raw materials through guide systems.
• Adjust knockouts, air ejectors, or pick-and-place arms for scrap stripping and finished part handling.
• Perform first-article inspection and sign-offs before beginning production runs.
• Regularly verify critical part dimensions, hole center-to-center distances, perimeter tolerances, and cut-edge squareness using digital calipers, height gauges, micrometers, and optical comparators.
• Monitor product runs for common die-cutting defects such as concaving, incomplete cut-through, burnishing, adhesive bleed, or registration shift.
• Record scrap percentages, cycle times, piece counts, and raw material lot numbers in the ERP system.
• Tag, segregate, and report non-conforming parts per QA protocols and ISO 9001 guidelines.
• Clean, inspect, and store steel-rule dies and cutting surfaces after each order; report worn blades or damaged ejection rubber for repair.
• Perform routine preventative maintenance on flatbed presses; lubricate moving parts, check hydraulic/pneumatic levels, and clear scrap build-up.
• Enforce Lockout/Tagout, light-curtain safety checks, emergency stops, and PPE usage.
• Maintain 5S-compliant workstation.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Blueprint reading

Die-cutting experience

Quality standards

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Calipers

Micrometers

Job description

Onin Staffing is seeking a precise, quality-driven Flatbed Press Operator to join our converting team in Nashville, TN. In this role, you will be responsible for setting up, tooling, calibrating, and running industrial flatbed die‑cutting presses (steel-rule die / platen presses) to convert sheeted and roll‑fed elastomeric foams, dense rubbers, plastics, adhesives, and composite materials into custom‑engineered gaskets, seals, and damping components.

The ideal candidate brings proven mechanical aptitude, experience with steel-rule dies and punch tooling, and a sharp focus on part geometry and tight dimensional tolerances.

Key Responsibilities

Setup & Machine Operation

• Review daily job packets, engineering prints, material specifications, and production schedules prior to run setup.
• Mount, shim, level, and align flatbed steel-rule dies, male/female stripping fixtures, and cutting plates to ensure even tonnage and clean, complete cuts.
• Set machine parameters, including platen stroke depth, cutting pressure, dwell time, feed roll advance, and knock-out/ejection mechanisms.
• Feed raw materials (individual sheets or web-fed rolls of foams, solid rubbers, plastics, and pressure-sensitive laminates) through guide systems.
• Adjust knockouts, air ejectors, or pick-and-place arms for scrap stripping and finished part handling.

Quality Assurance & Part Inspection

• Perform first-article inspection and sign-offs before beginning production runs.
• Regularly verify critical part dimensions, hole center-to-center distances, perimeter tolerances, and cut-edge squareness using digital calipers, height gauges, micrometers, and optical comparators.
• Monitor product runs for common die-cutting defects such as concaving, incomplete cut-through, burnishing, adhesive bleed, or registration shift.
• Record scrap percentages, cycle times, piece counts, and raw material lot numbers in the facility's ERP tracking system.
• Tag, segregate, and report non-conforming parts per company quality assurance protocols and ISO 9001 guidelines.

Maintenance, Tooling Care & Safety

• Clean, inspect, and store steel-rule dies and cutting surfaces properly after each production order; report worn blades or damaged ejection rubber for repair.
• Perform routine preventative maintenance on flatbed presses, including lubricating moving assemblies, checking hydraulic/pneumatic levels, and clearing scrap build-up.
• Strictly enforce Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) protocols, light-curtain safety checks, emergency stops, and required PPE usage.
• Maintain an orderly, compliant workstation following 5S principles.

Skills and Experience

• Experience: Minimum 1–2 years of experience operating industrial flatbed die-cutting presses, clamshell presses, platen presses, or traveling-head punch presses.
• Technical Skills:
  • Demonstrated ability to read and interpret technical blueprints, mechanical drawings, and cut sheets.
  • Proficiency in handling precision inspection instruments (calipers, drop indicators, micrometers, steel rulers).
  • Working knowledge of die make‑ready techniques, cutting plates, and ejection rubber selection.
• Math & Problem Solving: Solid shop math capabilities (fractions, decimals, metric-to-imperial conversions) and mechanical troubleshooting skills.
• Education: High school diploma, GED, or equivalent vocational training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience cutting cellular foams (EVA, cross‑linked polyethylene, open‑cell polyurethane), poron, neoprene, and solid EPDM/silicone sheets.
• Background operating in an ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 certified manufacturing setting.
• Experience with powered material handling equipment (forklifts, walkie stackers, pallet jacks).

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Ability to stand, bend, stoop, and maneuver around machinery continuously during an 8- to 10-hour shift.
• Ability to lift, load, and reposition material sheet stacks and heavy steel-rule tooling weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Manual dexterity required for hand-stripping scrap matrix, handling small parts, and adjusting machine components.
• Standard manufacturing plant environment with moving machinery, moderate operational noise (ear protection provided), and industrial sheet-handling equipment.

Don't miss this chance to enhance your experience in a production environment while enjoying competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package.

• Weekly pay
• $5 doctor's visit copays
• Free teledoctor service
• Free counseling services
• Life insurance included
• Vision insurance included
• Dental insurance included
• Vacation and holiday pay
• Free legal services
• Our unbeatable employee discount program