Flexographic Press Operator - 1st Shift

ITW; Cranbury Township (NJ); On-site; USD 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits package

12 paid holidays per year

401(k) with company match

Wellness programs

Job summary

ITW in Cranbury Township, NJ seeks a Flexographic Press Operator to safely set up, operate, and maintain a multi-station press to produce high-quality prints on flexible film. You will load inks, monitor quality, keep documentation, and cross-train on related processes to support operations.

The role requires 3–5 years in industrial machinery with inks and coatings; forklift use is expected, and a strong emphasis on safety and accuracy is essential as part of a team in a clean, safety-first

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in setup, operation, and troubleshooting industrial machinery that processes materials.
• Experience with inks, printing processes, viscosity, hazardous materials (HAZMAT), and chemical weighing or mixing is strongly desired.
• Material handling experience including operating forklifts and scissor lifts.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings.
• Basic experience using common hand tools and measuring devices.
• Strong math and measurement skills including decimals and fractions, and metric-to-standard conversion.
• Ability to work safely and independently in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate multi-station flexographic (Flexo) press equipment, including changing rollers and configuring controls.
• Load chemical mixes and inks; perform start-up checks and routine visual inspections for quality and performance.
• Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of press and rollers; replenish inks as needed for continuous production.
• Maintain accurate production, quality, and inventory documentation and enter data into computer systems.
• Use precision measuring tools to support accurate machine setup and operation.
• Prepare material for conversion by removing defects in editing department before setup.
• Inspect print heads and materials for defects and take corrective action to maintain quality.
• Safely perform material handling and operate hand tools; prepare UV and water-based inks as specified.

Skills

Industrial machinery operation

Ink handling

Forklift operation

Reading technical drawings

Mathematics and measurement

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Measuring tools

Forklifts / scissor lifts

Job description

Job Description

We offer a safety-first culture, a clean work environment, and opportunity for pay and skill advancement through our operator level program.

Shift hours are Mo-Fr 6:00am to 2:30pm.

The Flexographic Press Operator is responsible to safely setup, operate, and maintain a multi-station printing press to produce high-quality print designs and lettering on flexible plastic film in accordance with specifications, procedures, and output requirements.

• Set up and operate multi-station flexographic (Flexo) press equipment, including changing rollers, adjusting doctor blades, installing cutting dies, and configuring temperature, speed, curing system, and tension via touchscreen and mechanical controls. Ensure accurate material registration and alignment.
• Follow work instructions to prepare and load chemical mixes and inks. Conduct start-up checks and perform routine visual inspections of materials and equipment to ensure quality and performance standards are met.
• Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of the press and rollers. Monitor operations and replenish chemical mixes and inks as needed to maintain continuous production.
• Maintain accurate production, quality, and inventory documentation, including logbooks, work instructions, schedules, bar code labels, and work orders. Record quantities, footage, and specifications, and enter data into computer systems to generate labels for finished products.
• Utilize precision measuring tools and equipment to support accurate machine setup and operation.
• Prep material for conversion by monitoring and removing defects in editing department prior to setting up press.
• Inspect print heads and materials for defects, taking corrective action as necessary to maintain quality standards.
• Safely perform material handling tasks using lifts and hoists to move rolls, dies, and related materials.
• Operate and maintain a variety of hand tools, including Allen wrenches, pipe wrenches, screwdrivers, box cutters, tape measures, and rulers.
• Prepare UV and water-based ink and chemical mixtures in accordance with specifications.
• Cross-train on additional equipment and batch mixing processes to support operational flexibility and team coverage.
• Maintain a clean, neat, and organized work area, performing general housekeeping duties as required.
• Strictly adhere to all safety, security, and company work policies and procedures.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor to support operational needs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in the setup, operation, and troubleshooting industrial machinery that continuously processes materials is preferred. Experience working with inks, printing processes, viscosity, hazardous materials (HAZMAT), and chemical weighing or mixing is strongly desired.
• Material handling experience, including operating forklifts and scissor lifts.
• Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions, including the ability to read and interpret technical drawings.
• Basic experience using common hand tools and measuring devices.
• Strong math and measurement skills, including proficiency with decimals and fractions, reading tape measures and scales, and understanding the metric system (grams, kilograms) with the ability to convert to standard units. Ability to read and apply formulas accurately.
• Ability to work safely and independently with minimal supervision in a manufacturing environment.

ITW Covid Security (Cranbury, NJ) is a member of the ITW Specialty Films division of Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW), a Fortune 300 global diversified industrial manufacturer. ITW Specialty Films manufactures and markets specialized coated films for the Secure ID, Medical Specialty Bag, and Financial Card markets. We offer a safe, clean work environment with a stable company and a dynamic, collaborative, and growth-oriented team.

Compensation Information

$26 - $29/hour based on experience,

Our employees enjoy a full benefit package which includes competitively priced medical plan options with FSA and HSA plans, dental, prescription drug, vision, 401(k) with a company match, life insurance, wellness programs, employee discounts, 12 paid holidays per year, vacation and sick time starting in year of hire, and a corporate matching gift program for charitable donations!

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.