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Printing Press Operators set up and operate machines which print words and pictures on such items as boxes, cans, tubes, jars, clothing, and plastic packages. They also reproduce posters, billboard signs, catalogs, pamphlets, newspapers, magazines, stamps, and money.

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Printing Press Operators may:

Secure printing plates to print unit and adjust tolerances

Adjust control, margins, and ink flow to the inking rollers

Clean and oil the press and make minor repairs

Check the job order to determine the kind of paper and color of inks to be used

Clean and reset rollers

Load the press with paper and fill ink fountains

Run proofs and make adjustments on the press

Start the press and monitor its operation

Clean ink fountains; remove, clean, and store plates; and clean printing unit cylinders at the end of the run

Set up and operate plate-making equipment and paper-cutting, drilling, and folding machines

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Printing Press Operators may specialize in these areas:

651.362-010 CYLINDER-PRESS OPERATORS set up and operate different types and sizes of cylinder presses to produce printed products such as checks, envelopes, and labels.

651.382-010 ENGRAVING-PRESS OPERATORS set up and operate presses that engrave decorative designs or lettering on announcements, greeting and business cards, letterheads, and related items.

651.382-042 OFFSET-PRESS OPERATORS set up and operate offset printing presses to print single and multicolor materials from lithographic plates.

651.362-018 PLATEN-PRESS OPERATORS set up and operate platen-type printing presses to produce printed materials such as labels and envelopes.

651.362-026 ROTOGRAVURE-PRESS OPERATORS set up and operate rotary-type presses that print illustrations and other printed matter by gravure processes.

651.362-030 WEB-PRESS OPERATORS set up and operate rotary presses that use rolls of paper (called webs) to print newspaper, books, and periodicals.

651.685-026 ASSISTANT-PRESS OPERATORS work under the supervision of qualified Press Operators. They help Operators clean and set up machines such as sheet-fed (offset) or WEB (offset) presses.

651.682-010 FLEXOGRAPHIC-PRESS OPERATORS set up and operate presses that use rubber or plastic plates and fast-drying inks to print designs or lettering on paper or rolls of flexible plastic film, foil, shower curtains, and other nonabsorbent materials.

971.381-038 PHOTOENGRAVING PROOFERS verify printing quality and the correct position of colors on photoengraved printing plates using a flat bed or cylinder press, and prepare a data sheet on color matching or ink modification of plates to improve the quality.

979.362-010 INSTANT PRINT OFFSET-DUPLICATING-MACHINE OPERATORS run offset-duplicating machines, photocopiers, process cameras, and related machines and equipment to produce copies of original materials, and provide customer service at instant printing shops.

652.682-018 SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE OPERATORS print designs on assorted materials such as glassware, metal, plastic or electronic components.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Printing Press Operators usually work on crews that include other qualified Printing Press Operators and lesser skilled workers. In a small shop with a simple press, however, the Printing Press Operator may work alone. Press rooms may be noisy, and Press Operators may be exposed to odors from materials such as ink, lacquer, and solvents. Some modern printing plants are air-conditioned. Press Operators may have to stand much of the time and do a lot and bending, reaching, and lifting. They are also exposed to the hazards of working with machinery.

Printing Press Operators usually work a 37 1/2 to 40-hour week. They may be required to work day, evening, or night shifts, and Sundays and holidays. Depending on the employer and production schedule, overtime work may also be necessary.

Printing Press Operators may be required to provide and wear eye protection, safety shoes, and other safety equipment. Depending on where they work, Printing Press Operators may be required to be a member of a union such as the International Printing and Graphic Communications Union or the Graphic Communications International Union. Those belonging to unions must pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Dealing with things and objects

• Using machines, processes, and techniques

• Doing routine and organized activities

• Doing activities that require working on or producing things

You Should Be Able To:

• Work with complex machines

• Work accurately and pay close attention to detail

• Do routine work according to specifications

• Understand written and oral instructions

• Make decisions based on measurable information

• Picture objects from drawings or diagrams

• See slight differences in shapes and shading of printed matter

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

You are working on a print job and the inking rollers have a tolerance of .01 to .03. The calibration shows your rollers are 1/2" above the printing plate. How much do you have to adjust the roller to bring it into tolerance?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Printing terminology and procedures.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a written analysis indicating defects of a particular job.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Analytical skills and be detail oriented in operating press equipment.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond high school) or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

/careers/0,1607,7-170-22526_23422-64454--,00.html0 ART , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 2200 MATH , 2600 PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO , 2900 SCIENCE , 3200 TECHNICAL DRAWING , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this MOIScript

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

143 PRINTING, GRAPHICS & COMMERCIAL ART

Programs in Printing, Graphics, and Commercial Art provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment communicating ideas or stimulating interest in industrial products using pictorial or printed media. Employment is available in the printing industry and in many branches of advertising. Individuals who teach Printing, Graphics, and Commercial Art at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses vary among schools and areas of interest but may include:

            Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript

***MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES***

Please check Military website at http://www.myfuture.com .

PRINTING SPECIALISTS

The military produces many printed publications each year, including newspapers, booklets, training manuals, maps, and charts. Printing specialists operate printing presses and binding machines to make finished copies of printed material.

What They Do

Printing specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Reproduce printed matter using offset lithographic printing processes

• Prepare photographic negatives and transfer them to printing plates using copy cameras and enlargers

• Prepare layouts of artwork photographs, and text for lithographic plates

• Produce brochures, newspapers, maps, and charts

• Bind printed material into hardback or paperback books using binding machines

• Maintain printing presses

Helpful Attributes

Helpful school subjects include shop mechanics. Helpful attributes include:

• Preference for doing physical work

• Interest in learning about printing

Training Provided

Job training consists of 8 to 20 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in operating printing presses. Training length varies by specialty. Course content typically includes:

• Photolithography techniques

• Operation of offset presses

• Techniques for making printing plates

• Binding Techniques

Further training occurs on the job and through advance courses. The Army, Navy and Marine Corps offer certified apprenticeship programs in this occupation.

Work Environment

Printing specialists work indoors in print shops and offices located on land or aboard ships.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian printing specialists work for commercial print shops, newspapers, insurance companies, government offices, or businesses that do their own printing. They perform duties similar to military printing specialists. They may be called offset printing press operators, lithograph press operators, offset supplicating machine operators, lithograph photographers, or bindery workers.

Physical Demands

Normal color vision is required to enter some specialties in this occupation.

Opportunities

The military has about 800 printing specialists. On average, the services need about 70 new specialists each year. After job training, specialists normally operate printing and binding machines under direct supervision. With experience, they work more independently, setting up and operating machines. In time, printing specialists may become supervisors of printing plants.  

E-Learning Courses and Programs  

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Some employers prefer Operators who have completed a formal apprenticeship. A physical exam may also be required.

Some of the ways to gain experience in this field are through summer or part-time employment with printing firms, or formal apprenticeship training and service in a branch of the military. Postsecondary programs in printing, graphics, and commercial art may offer a co-op portion through which experience may also be gained.

                School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Printing Press Operator employer

internships

volunteer work with a Printing Press Operator employer

community service work with an agency

Methods of entering this field include direct application to employers. Assistance may be available from school placement offices, local Michigan Works! offices, newspaper want ads, and local unions. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Michigan Talent Bank  

Classifieds Employment

Yahoo! Careers

Michigan Works!

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Printing Press Operators depend on the type of firm and employer; geographic area; extent of unionization; and kind, size, and complexity of the press operated.

Nationally in 1998, the median weekly wage for various types of Printing Press Operators was $490 ($12.25 per hour).

In Michigan, nonunion Offset Printing Press Operators earned (1999):

Unionized printers for the above occupations earned more in 1999.

Apprentices' wages begin at about 60% of a qualified Printing Press Operator's wage. Some Operators receive overtime rates, cost-of-living allowances, and extra pay for working on Sundays and holidays. Usually evening and night shift workers earn a higher rate than day workers earn.

The 1997 Michigan high school vocational education program graduates working in jobs related to this occupation earned an average beginning wage of $7.23 in 1998.

Most unionized Printing Press Operators receive health and life insurance, paid vacations and holidays, sick leave, and pension plans. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by employers.

Printing Press Operators usually start out as laborers or press assistants. If they show ability and a willingness to learn, they may become apprentices and eventually advance to positions as qualified Printing Press Operators. In large plants with large multicolor presses, the line of advancement is floor helper, press helper, press tender, apprentice feeder, feeder, apprentice press operator, second press operator, press operator, press supervisor.

With additional training and education, the press room supervisor may become a printing estimator, printing salesperson, press room or printing plant superintendent, production manager, press room instructor, or servicer.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, about 214,900 Printing Press Operators were employed in 1996. An unknown number of Assistants were also employed. Employment of these workers is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2006. However, the employment of letterpress workers will continue to decline sharply. About 4.9% of them were self employed. The industry distribution for Printing Press Operators looked like this:

Press Operators are expected to face keen competition for jobs. Opportunities should be better for Web-Press Operators than for other types of Printing Press Operators.

There are about 5,125 Printing Press Operators and Assistants employed in Michigan. They worked for commercial printing shops, books and magazine, publishers, newspaper publishing plants, and organizations that do their own printing such as banks, insurance companies, and government agencies.

Employment of Printing Press Operators in Michigan should increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. An average of 150 annual openings is expected, with 50 due to growth and 100 due to replacement. In 1998, there were 14 apprentices in training for this occupation, and 2 completed the apprenticeship program.

The printing industry is responding to the challenge of electronic media by investing heavily in digital technology. Digital printing machines represent a fast-response process that moves quickly from the disk to the press. State-of-the-art systems are filmless computer-to-plate printing systems and digital plate-free printing presses. Digital short-run color presses that eliminate film and platemaking have been introduced to the market and short-term color printing has grown. Higher end presses offer a computer console with ink monitoring, automatic plate changing, and automatic wash-up. Most printing is now offset and flexography. Letterpress printing has severely declined.

Demand for printed items comes from an expanding economy, better-educated population, and rising personal income. Michigan's expanding economy has offset the negative factors of growing electronic media and environmental costs for more acceptable inks.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed occupational information is available upon written request from sources below:

SUMMARY PROFILE

The occupation of Print Press Operator can be summarized by the following:

MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development