Industrial Machine Maintenance and Operation

K & S Tire Recycling, Inc.; Chicago Heights (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Shift options: 1st/2nd

Competitive hourly pay

Job summary

K&S Tire Recycling, Inc. is seeking an experienced Industrial Maintenance Technician / Equipment Operator to maintain and operate heavy-duty tire recycling equipment in a hands-on role.

You will work on shredders, steel liberation equipment, conveyors, screens, magnets, and material-handling systems, while keeping the production line running efficiently. This role requires strong mechanical aptitude, diagnostic skills, and the ability to troubleshoot and perform preventive maintenance.

Qualifications

• Experience with tire shredders, recycling equipment, crushers, grinders, or similar machinery.
• Experience maintaining production or recycling equipment is a plus.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work in varied temperatures.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain industrial tire shredding and recycling equipment.
• Perform preventive and routine maintenance on shredders, conveyors, magnets, and related equipment.
• Inspect machinery for wear, damage, vibration, heat, or leaks.
• Troubleshoot equipment breakdowns and production issues.
• Assist with repairs and return machinery to service safely and efficiently.
• Maintain tools, parts, and maintenance areas.
• Communicate problems and repairs to management.

Skills

Industrial machinery

Shredders & grinders

Conveyors

Bearings & shafts

Motors & gearboxes

Belts & chains

Sprockets & pulleys

Hydraulic systems

Pneumatic systems

Lubrication systems

Cutting knives & wear components

Preventive maintenance

Mechanical troubleshooting

Hand & power tools

Torque wrenches

Grease systems

Welding & fabrication

Tools

Bobcat/skid steer

Lockout/Tagout procedures

Torque wrenches

Electrical troubleshooting tools

Basic welding tools

Job description

K&S Tire Recycling is seeking an experienced, mechanically skilled Industrial Maintenance Technician / Equipment Operator to maintain and operate heavy-duty tire recycling equipment.
This is a hands-on position for someone who understands industrial machinery and is comfortable getting into the equipment, identifying problems, replacing wear components, making adjustments, and keeping a production line running.
Our equipment includes industrial tire shredders, steel liberation equipment, conveyors, screens, magnets, material-handling systems, and Bobcat/skid-steer equipment.

This is not simply a machine operator position. We are looking for someone with strong mechanical aptitude who can operate equipment while also helping maintain and troubleshoot it.
Primary Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain industrial tire shredding and recycling equipment
• Perform preventive and routine maintenance on tire shredders, steel liberation equipment, conveyors, screens, magnets, and related processing equipment
• Inspect machinery regularly for wear, damage, unusual vibration, heat, noise, leaks, or other signs of mechanical problems
• Identify mechanical problems before they result in major equipment failures
• Troubleshoot equipment breakdowns and production issues
• Assist with equipment repairs and return machinery to service safely and efficiently
• Remove, replace, adjust, and maintain shredder knives, cutters, screens, wear plates, bearings, shafts, belts, chains, sprockets, rollers, and other mechanical components
• Inspect shredder knives and cutting components for wear and damage
• Assist with knife changes, rotations, adjustments, and proper installation
• Maintain proper clearances, alignment, tension, and adjustment of equipment components
• Clear jams and material blockages using proper safety and lockout/tagout procedures
• Lubricate bearings and other components according to maintenance requirements
• Inspect conveyors, belts, rollers, bearings, motors, and drive components
• Perform routine preventive maintenance and document completed work
• Maintain tools, replacement parts, and maintenance work areas
• Communicate equipment problems and needed repairs to management
• Assist outside technicians and equipment manufacturers when necessary
• Maintain a clean and safe production and maintenance area

Equipment Operation
The employee will also be responsible for operating material-handling equipment as part of daily production.
Responsibilities Include

• Operate a Bobcat/skid steer
• Load tires and other materials into processing equipment
• Move processed and unprocessed material throughout the facility
• Load and unload material
• Maintain proper material flow to production equipment
• Keep production and storage areas organized
• Perform basic daily inspections of the Bobcat/skid steer before operation

Previous Skid-steer/Bobcat Operating Experience Is Required Or Strongly Preferred.

Mechanical Skills

Candidates should have experience with some or all of the following:

• Industrial machinery
• Shredders or grinders
• Conveyors
• Bearings and shafts
• Motors and gearboxes
• Belts and chains
• Sprockets and pulleys
• Hydraulic systems
• Pneumatic systems
• Lubrication systems
• Cutting knives and wear components
• Preventive maintenance
• Mechanical troubleshooting
• Hand and power tools
• Impact tools
• Torque wrenches
• Grease systems
• Basic welding and fabrication

Requirements
Experience working with tire shredders, recycling equipment, crushers, grinders, aggregate equipment, scrap-processing equipment, heavy manufacturing equipment, or similar machinery is highly desirable.
This is a physically demanding industrial position.
Candidates Must Be Able To

• Lift and handle up to 50 lbs.
• Stand and walk for extended periods
• Bend, kneel, climb, reach, push, and pull
• Use hand and power tools
• Work around industrial machinery
• Work indoors and outdoors
• Work in varying temperatures and conditions
• Perform maintenance work that may require working in tight or difficult-to-access areas
• Safely perform repetitive physical tasks

Qualifications
Preferred Candidates Will Have

• Previous industrial maintenance or mechanical experience
• Experience maintaining production or recycling equipment
• Strong mechanical aptitude
• Experience operating a Bobcat/skid steer
• Ability to identify mechanical problems and troubleshoot equipment
• Experience replacing bearings, belts, chains, knives, screens, or other wear components
• Basic welding/fabrication experience is a plus
• Basic electrical troubleshooting experience is a plus
• Ability to safely use hand, pneumatic, and power tools
• Understanding of preventive maintenance
• Knowledge of Lockout/Tagout procedures
• Ability to work independently and as part of a production team

Benefits
Why Work With K&S Tire Recycling?

K&S Tire Recycling is a growing tire recycling company serving customers throughout the Midwest. Our operation keeps millions of pounds of tires and recyclable materials out of landfills and puts those materials back to productive use.
We value employees who are reliable, safety-conscious, hardworking, and willing to learn.
We offer accrued paid time off (40 hours per year starting after probation period)
We have 1st and 2nd shift positions available.
Compensation is $18-$20 per Hour USD