Pre-Treat Operator - 1st shift

IFA Powertrain Polska; Summerville (SC); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

IFA North America is seeking a PreTreat Operator to manage the preparation of fabrication parts for industrial coating and painting. The role ensures maximum paint adhesion by controlling chemical parameters, inspecting surfaces, and maintaining wash systems in a large-scale facility.

You will monitor degreasers, rinse tanks, and phosphating baths, perform routine tests, and document logs while following safety rules and environmental regulations.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years in industrial painting, powder coating, or chemical pre-treatment preferred; willing to train strong mechanical aptitude.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical knowledge of multi-stage industrial wash systems and strict safety/environmental guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and adjust pre-treatment tanks (degreaser, rinsing, phosphating) before coating.
• Perform bath control tests (pH, titration, log chemical levels).
• Ensure parts are free of grease, dirt, oil, scale, and rust before spray coating.
• Set up/operate conveyor lines, spray nozzles, and drying equipment.
• Visually inspect parts for surface defects and document quality metrics.
• Clean, troubleshoot, and perform preventive maintenance on wash stages and equipment.
• Handle, mix, and dispose of hazardous chemicals per OSHA and SDS guidelines.

Skills

Multi-stage wash systems

Titration & pH testing

Quality inspection tools

Detail-oriented

Documentation

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Elcometers

Infrared cameras

Titration kits

pH meters

Job description

The PreTreat Operator is responsible for preparing fabrication parts and surfaces for the industrial coating and painting process. This critical role manages the chemistry and mechanical functionality of the pre-treatment wash tanks or systems to ensure maximum paint adhesion, prevent corrosion, and deliver a flawless finish. The operator bridges the gap between raw fabrication and final paint application by strictly monitoring chemical parameters and inspecting parts for optimal quality.

Essential Functions:

• Maintain, monitor, and adjust pre-treatment degreaser, chemical rinsing, and phosphating tanks prior to the coating process.
• Perform regular bath control tests, including pH testing, titration analysis, and chemical level logging to keep wash stages within specification.
• Ensure raw metal, plastic, or composite parts are entirely free of grease, dirt, oil, scale, and rust before they reach the spray booth.
• Set up and operate automated conveyor lines, spray nozzles, pre-heat induction coils, and drying ovens.
• Perform rigorous visual inspection of raw parts coming into pre-treatment and exiting the dry-off oven. Identify surface defects and document quality metrics.
• Clean, troubleshoot, and perform preventative maintenance on wash stages, filtration systems, spray nozzles, and booth components.
• Safely handle, mix, and dispose of hazardous chemicals and pre-treatment waste according to OSHA, local environmental regulations, and SDS guidelines.

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Experience:

• Minimum 1-2 years of experience in an industrial painting, powder coating, or chemical pre-treatment environment is preferred (willing to train candidates with strong mechanical aptitude).

Specific Skills:

• Technical Knowledge: Understanding of multi-stage industrial wash systems (e.g., iron or zinc phosphate, reverse osmosis water, acid washes).
• Testing Capabilities: Experience using titration kits, pH meters, and quality inspection tools (e.g., Elcometers, infrared cameras for temperature checks).
• Detail-Oriented: Exceptional eye for surface abnormalities, oil residues, or uneven chemical coating.
• Documentation Skills: Competency in filling out chemical logs, total preventative maintenance (TPM) paperwork, and scrap tickets.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to walk/move about a 500,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility: 90% of the time
• Must be able to stand/walk/move about specific work area: 90% of the time
• Must be able to bend/reach/twist/stoop: 70% of the time
• Must be able to lift up to 40lbs on a frequent basis: 40% of the time
• Must be able to lift over 40lbs on an infrequent basis: 15% of the time
• Must be able to push/pull materials using motorized and non-motorized material handling equipment on an infrequent basis: 20% of the time
• Must be able to sit at a work station: 80% of the time
• Must be able to work and operate a computer terminal: 80% of the time
• Vision is required to analyze and process work; and to work on computer terminal/machine centers, etc.
• Hearing is essential for safety reasons; and to communicate with employees, supervisors, managers, vendors, suppliers and customers via conversation, group meetings, and/or phone conferences
• Must be able to work with Paints/solvents/cleaners
• Must be able to work any shift as required including overtime as needed

AAP/EEO Statement

IFA North America provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, IFA North America complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.