Production Technician

Synthomer; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Annual bonus

LTIP for senior positions

Company car or car allowance

Parental leave and family support

Learning & development – Synthomer U

Job summary

Synthomer is a leading polymer company with a facility in Ohio seeking an operator to maintain daily operation of process equipment, perform preventative maintenance, and provide emergency repairs under supervision. The role centers on mastering welding as a primary duty and installing new equipment as needed.

You will transfer products, inspect lines and valves, operate scales and pumps, and work with forklifts while ensuring product quality and process safety.

Responsibilities

• Transfer product by identifying correct lines and completing connections.
• Visually check lines, connections, and bleed off valves before, during and after transfer.
• Operate digital and mechanical scales, meters, pumps, filters, hoists, hose connections and transfer stations as needed.
• Operate forklifts to safely move material.
• Know product incompatibilities to avoid contamination.
• Take samples from storage tanks, tank trucks, rail cars, packaged latex, and resin bags and deliver to the quality lab for testing.
• Operate latex coagulation equipment – set up the production run on the distributive control system, complete prestart up equipment checks, operate equipment, monitor operation during production, troubleshoot product and equipment problems, keep area clean
• Operate drying equipment – complete prestart up equipment checks, operate equipment, monitor equipment during production, troubleshoot product and equipment problems, keep area clean
• Operate bagging equipment – complete prestart up equipment checks, operate equipment, monitor equipment during production, troubleshoot product and equipment problems, wrap and label pallets, transport pallets to warehouse storage area, keep area clean
• Load tank trucks – spot trucks, check paperwork and truck cleanliness, operate loading ramp, open truck man way hatch, make hose connections, operate valves, record meter readings, change loading filters, monitor loading process.
• Load totes and drums – load totes or drums, make hose connections, operate valves, operate drum filler program, change loading filters, monitor loading process.
• Unload tank cars (railcars) – verify rail spot, check paperwork, connect hoses, open man way hatch, verify hose connections, operate valves, record meter readings, change unloading filters, monitor unloading process.
• Filter product – verify tanks to filter from and filter to, make hose connections, operate valves, operate filter screen equipment, change screens on the filter screen equipment, change filters, monitor filtering process.
• Sanitize transfer lines – flush lines, make up sanitizing solution, use pumps and distribution system to sanitize lines.
• Manage time effectively to perform multiple job tasks safely and accurately.
• Communicate with other operators, maintenance employees and supervisors as needed to perform job tasks correctly.
• Perform shift turnover, including talking with incoming or outgoing operator, checking valves and equipment to ensure proper working order and position.
• Attend meetings, such as safety meetings, shift meetings, communication meetings, town hall and others as required.
• Support RCMS and ISO compliance efforts.

Job description

Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,500 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 28 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Position Summary

Responsible for maintaining daily operation of equipment, preventative maintenance on process equipment and facility systems, providing emergency repairs as needed with moderate supervision. Performs as a master welder as a primary duty. Installs new equipment and inspects and repairs existing equipment.

Key Responsibilities

• Transfer product by identifying correct lines and completing connections.
• Visually check lines, connections, and bleed off valves before, during and after transfer.
• Operate digital and mechanical scales, meters, pumps (centrifugal, positive displacement, air, etc.), filters, hoists, hose connections and transfer stations as needed.
• Operate forklifts to safely move material.
• Know product incompatibilities to avoid contamination.
• Take samples from storage tanks, tank trucks, rail cars, packaged latex, and resin bags and deliver to the quality lab for testing.
• Operate latex coagulation equipment – set up the production run on the distributive control system, complete prestart up equipment checks, operate equipment, monitor operation during production, troubleshoot product and equipment problems, keep area clean
• Operate drying equipment – complete prestart up equipment checks, operate equipment, monitor equipment during production, troubleshoot product and equipment problems, keep area clean
• Operate bagging equipment – complete prestart up equipment checks, operate equipment, monitor equipment during production, troubleshoot product and equipment problems, wrap and label pallets, transport pallets to warehouse storage area, keep area clean
• Load tank trucks – spot trucks, check paperwork and truck cleanliness, operate loading ramp, open truck man way hatch, make hose connections, operate valves, record meter readings, change loading filters, monitor loading process.
• Load totes and drums – load totes or drums, make hose connections, operate valves, operate drum filler program, change loading filters, monitor loading process.
• Unload tank cars (railcars) – verify rail spot, check paperwork, connect hoses, open man way hatch, verify hose connections, operate valves, record meter readings, change unloading filters, monitor unloading process.
• Filter product – verify tanks to filter from and filter to, make hose connections, operate valves, operate filter screen equipment, change screens on the filter screen equipment, change filters, monitor filtering process.
• Sanitize transfer lines – flush lines, make up sanitizing solution, use pumps and distribution system to sanitize lines.
• Manage time effectively to perform multiple job tasks safely and accurately.
• Communicate with other operators, maintenance employees and supervisors as needed to perform job tasks correctly.
• Perform shift turnover, including talking with incoming or outgoing operator, checking valves and equipment to ensure proper working order and position.
• Attend meetings, such as safety meetings, shift meetings, communication meetings, town hall and others as required.
• Support RCMS and ISO compliance efforts.

Global Benefits Overview

• Competitive, market-aligned compensation
• Discretionary global bonus scheme
• Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions
• Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role
• Healthcare – tailored to regional locations
• Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)
• Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs
• Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers
• Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives
• Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country
• Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive
• Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes