Plate Room / Prepress Tech

Smurfit-Westrock; Claremont (NC); On-site; USD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive training

Competitive salary

Global packaging company with focus on

Sustainability and safety emphasis

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Plate Room/Prepress Technician in North Carolina to prepare production files, produce high-quality printing plates, and maintain prepress workflows. The role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and adherence to safety and GMP standards.

Responsibilities include file preparation, proofing, imposition, color correction, plate loading, and production tracking. The ideal candidate has experience in prepress or printing and knowledge of Kodak Prinergy

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Previous prepress, plate making, printing, or graphic arts experience preferred.
• Experience with offset plate production highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of color management and print production processes.
• Ability to safely lift and handle plate materials.
• Ability to stand and work in a manufacturing environment for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Download digital files from FTP sites and prepare/preflight customer files.
• Verify resolution, fonts, color modes, file integrity, and production readiness.
• Build 1-Up files in Unified Workflow; create proof folders and generate/print 1-Up proofs.
• Print files using the Epson proofing printer.
• Step jobs using Kodak Prinergy Layout Automation (PLA).
• Verify layout accuracy and apply required bleeds, marks, barcodes, and press specifications.
• Check jobs using VPS and send approved files to the appropriate output devices.
• Perform color correction and calibration to support accurate color reproduction.
• Apply trapping and other print-quality controls as required.
• Manually load plates into the Kodak Plate Setter and verify plate material quality and squareness.
• Inspect completed plates; validate barcodes and identification information.
• Bend plates to production specifications and produce remake plates as required.
• Operate Kodak Plate Setter equipment and maintain/clean developer processor equipment.
• Perform routine maintenance procedures and promptly report equipment issues.
• Diagnose file-related, color, output, equipment, and workflow issues; take corrective action to minimize downtime.
• Access and complete Sweep Sheets and assigned Master Cleaning Schedule / housekeeping duties.
• Follow plant SQF policy, SQF requirements, quality policy, and quality management requirements.
• Follow product mix-prevention procedures, waste-management procedures, and trash-can color-coding requirements.
• Comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), physical-contaminant controls, and housekeeping/sanitation standards.
• Mark jobs complete (plated), maintain the Plate Log, enter jobs plated during the shift, and complete required production tracking.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Time management

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Kodak Prinergy

Esko software

Job description

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

Plate Room/Prepress Tech

Pay: $23 - $25

GENERAL PURPOSE:

The Plate Room / Prepress Technician supports the manufacturing process by accurately preparing production files, producing high-quality printing plates, maintaining prepress workflow accuracy, and helping ensure efficient production. This role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, effective troubleshooting, and consistent adherence to plant safety, quality, food packaging, SQF, GMP, housekeeping, and production requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

File Preparation & Prepress Operations

• Download digital files from FTP sites and prepare/preflight customer files.
• Verify resolution, fonts, color modes, file integrity, and production readiness.
• Build 1-Up files in Unified Workflow; create proof folders and generate/print 1-Up proofs.
• Print files using the Epson proofing printer.

Imposition & Layout

• Step jobs using Kodak Prinergy Layout Automation (PLA).
• Verify layout accuracy and apply required bleeds, marks, barcodes, and press specifications.
• Check jobs using VPS and send approved files to the appropriate output devices.
• Perform color correction and calibration to support accurate color reproduction.
• Apply trapping and other print-quality controls as required.

Plate Production

• Manually load plates into the Kodak Plate Setter and verify plate material quality and squareness.
• Inspect completed plates; validate barcodes and identification information.
• Bend plates to production specifications and produce remake plates as required.

Equipment Operation, Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Operate Kodak Plate Setter equipment and maintain/clean developer processor equipment.
• Perform routine maintenance procedures and promptly report equipment issues.
• Diagnose file-related, color, output, equipment, and workflow issues; take corrective action to minimize downtime.
• Access and complete Sweep Sheets and assigned Master Cleaning Schedule / housekeeping duties.
• Follow plant SQF policy, SQF requirements, quality policy, and quality management requirements.
• Follow product mix-prevention procedures, waste-management procedures, and trash-can color-coding requirements.
• Comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), physical-contaminant controls, and housekeeping/sanitation standards.
• Mark jobs complete (plated), maintain the Plate Log, enter jobs plated during the shift, and complete required production tracking.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Previous prepress, plate making, printing, or graphic arts experience preferred.
• Experience with offset plate production highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of color management and print production processes.
• Ability to safely lift and handle plate materials.
• Ability to stand and work in a manufacturing environment for extended periods.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & SOFTWARE

Experience with or working knowledge of the following is preferred:

• Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.
• Kodak Prinergy and related prepress workflow tools.
• Esko software, ArtPro, Pandora, and other prepress workflow systems.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and quality.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication, teamwork, problem‑solving, and troubleshooting skills.

SAFETY, PPE & SITE REQUIREMENTS

• Follow all plant safety rules, procedures, and required safe-work practices.
• Wear required production-area PPE and follow ear-plug and glove policies.
• Obtain required PPE and small tools through designated vending equipment, as applicable.
• Complete and/or use required safety documentation, including Safety Forms, Near Miss Forms, and STEP Forms.
• Follow site-security procedures and the plant Chemical Control Program.
• Know how to locate and use Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and carrying.
• Occasional or infrequent grasping, climbing, and kneeling.
• Ability to safely perform the essential functions of the position in a manufacturing environment, with or without reasonable accommodation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in a manufacturing / prepress environment. The employee may be exposed to production equipment, noise, moving machinery, printing/processing materials, and other conditions typical of a manufacturing facility. Required PPE and all applicable safety, quality, SQF, GMP, sanitation, and site-security requirements must be followed at all times.

What we offer

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability and excellence
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.