Print Plate Technician

Smurfit Westrock Company; Pleasant Prairie, Northern (WI, KY); Hybrid; USD 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock Company in Wisconsin is seeking a Print Plate Technician to manage, prepare, maintain, and install printing plates used in corrugated packaging production. You will ensure plates meet quality standards, are ready for scheduled runs, and support customer requirements and manufacturing schedules.

You will inspect, catalog, and store plates and dies; set up equipment; verify artwork revisions; track usage and condition; and collaborate with Production, Pre-Press, and Packaging

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum 1 year of manufacturing, printing, pre-press, tooling, or related production experience.

Responsibilities

• Receive, inspect, catalog, and store print plates and dies.
• Prepare and install printing plates and dies for production.
• Verify artwork revisions and ensure correct versions for production.
• Maintain records of plate location, usage history, and condition.
• Support troubleshooting of print quality issues with plates/dies.
• Follow safety, quality and handling procedures for plates.

Skills

Inventory management

Reading artwork files

Mechanical aptitude

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Printing equipment

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.

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Job Summary

The Print Plate Technician is responsible for the management, preparation, maintenance, storage, repair, and installation of printing plates used in corrugated packaging production. This role ensures print plates meet quality standards, are available for scheduled production runs, and are maintained to maximize print quality and operational efficiency. The Print Plate Technician works closely with Production, Customer Service, Pre-Press, Procurement, and Packaging Design teams to support customer requirements and manufacturing schedules.

Pay Rate: $30.33 and hour plus shift Differentia

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Must be available for 2nd/3rd shift

Major Job Responsibilities

Business Excellence

• Receive, inspect, catalog, and store new and existing print plates.
• Maintain accurate print plate inventory and tracking records.
• Prepare printing plates and dies for scheduled production runs according to production schedules.
• Install, remove, and verify print plate and die setup on printing equipment.
• Inspect print plates and dies for wear, damage, distortion, and print quality issues.
• Clean, repair, and maintain printing plates to extend useful life and reduce replacement costs.
• Coordinate replacement or modification requests with external print plate and die vendors.
• Verify artwork revisions and ensure correct versions are available for production.
• Maintain accurate records of print plate and die location, usage history, and condition.
• Perform quality checks to ensure print plates and dies meet customer specifications and internal standards.
• Support new product launches, artwork changes, and customer revisions.
• Work closely with Production personnel to troubleshoot print quality issues related to plates or dies.
• Follow established procedures for handling, shipping, and receiving print plates.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to tooling, waste reduction, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, environmental, and company policies.

Critical Skills / Capabilities

Technical Skills

• Knowledge of flexographic printing processes preferred.
• Understanding of corrugated packaging manufacturing processes preferred.
• Ability to read production specifications, artwork files, and manufacturing documents.
• Experience with inventory management systems and databases.
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to work with tooling and printing equipment.

Core Competencies

• Strong attention to detail.
• Organizational and inventory control skills.
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting ability.
• Effective verbal and written communication.
• Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple deadlines.
• Commitment to safety and quality.
• Teamwork and collaboration.

Physical Requirements

To perform the duties of this position, the employee must be able to:

• Frequently lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Frequently stand and walk throughout the shift.
• Frequently reach, grasp, and manipulate print plates and related tooling.
• Occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, and climb.
• Use hands and fingers continuously for handling tooling, equipment, and computer systems.
• Visually inspect print plates for defects and quality issues.
• Manufacturing environment with exposure to moving mechanical equipment.
• Regular exposure to noise, dust, ink, adhesives, and production equipment.
• Occasional work in warehouse and storage areas.
• May require overtime, weekends, and shift flexibility based on business needs.

Experience

Required:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum 1 year of manufacturing, printing, pre-press, tooling, or related production experience.

Preferred:

• Experience in corrugated packaging or flexographic printing.
• Experience managing tooling or print plate inventories.
• Knowledge of artwork management and print plate fabrication processes.

Success Measures

• Print plate availability for scheduled production.
• Print quality performance and reduction of print-related defects.
• Inventory accuracy.
• On-time support of production schedules.
• Reduction in tooling replacement costs through proper maintenance.
• Compliance with safety and quality standards.

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.