Punch Press Setup Technician

Hog Slat, Incorporated | Georgia Poultry Equipment Company; Newton Grove (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Hog Slat, Incorporated, the leading provider of swine and poultry equipment, seeks a Punch Press Setup Technician for our Newton Grove, NC plant. You will set up dies, maintain tooling, and optimize press operations to ensure safe, accurate production.

Strong mechanical aptitude and experience with dies, grinders, and blueprints are required. Responsibilities include die installation, sharpening, surface grinding, tolerance interpretation, and quality verification using precision tools.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience setting up punch press dies and tooling.
• Disassembling, sharpening, and maintaining punch press components.
• Reading blueprints and interpreting tolerances to ensure part accuracy.
• Operating punch press mechanics, safety systems, and feed/tonnage setups.

Responsibilities

• Die Setup — install, align, and secure dies according to job specs.
• Die Disassembly — remove dies for maintenance or tooling changes.
• Sharpening operations — sharpen punches, dies, and tooling.
• Surface grinding — achieve precise flatness and finish on tooling components.
• Quality verification — inspect parts with calipers, micrometers, and height gauges.
• Preventive maintenance — perform routine checks on tooling and press equipment.

Skills

Punch press setup

Die tooling maintenance

Surface grinder operation

Blueprint reading

Tolerance interpretation

Safety compliance

Measurement tools

Mechanical aptitude

Education

Machining / toolmaking / industrial maintenance training

Tools

Surface grinder

Calipers/Micrometers

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Hog Slat, Incorporated, the world's leading provider of parts, equipment and turn-key construction to the swine & poultry industries is seeking a Punch Press Setup Technician to join the team at our Newton Grove, NC steel fabrication plant. The Punch Press Setup Technician is responsible for setting up, maintaining, and optimizing punch press tooling and equipment to ensure safe, accurate, and efficient production. This role requires strong mechanical aptitude, precision, and hands‑on experience with dies, grinders, and press operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other functions may be assigned as business conditions change.

• Die Setup — Install, align, and secure dies in punch presses according to job specifications, ensuring proper fit, clearance, and operational readiness.
• Die Disassembly — Remove dies safely and efficiently for maintenance, inspection, or tooling changes.
• Sharpening Operations — Sharpen punches, dies, and related tooling using appropriate equipment to maintain edge quality and dimensional accuracy.
• Surface Grinding — Operate surface grinders to achieve precise flatness, parallelism, and finish on tooling components.
• Tolerance Interpretation — Read and interpret blueprints, dimensional tolerances, and technical drawings to ensure parts meet required specifications.
• Press Operation Knowledge — Apply working knowledge of punch press mechanics, safety systems, stroke settings, tonnage requirements, and feed systems.
• Quality Verification — Inspect finished parts using calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and other precision tools.
• Preventive Maintenance — Perform routine checks on tooling and press equipment to prevent downtime and extend tool life.
• Safety Compliance — Follow all safety protocols, lockout/tagout procedures, and company standards to maintain a safe working environment.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Hands‑on experience setting up punch press dies and tooling
• Proficiency in disassembling, sharpening, and maintaining punch press components
• Ability to operate a surface grinder with precision
• Strong understanding of manufacturing tolerances and measurement tools
• Working knowledge of punch press operation, mechanics, and safety
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and blueprints
• Mechanical aptitude and problem‑solving skills
• Commitment to quality, accuracy, and safe work practices

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with progressive dies or high‑volume stamping
• Familiarity with CNC or automated feed systems
• Background in metal fabrication or tool & die work
• Formal training in machining, toolmaking, or industrial maintenance

Hog Slat Inc. is a n Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age disability, veteran status or any other reason prohibited under Federal State or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job-related requirements.