National Occupation Code (NOC): 7381

Printing press operators set up and operate sheet and web-fed presses to print text, illustrations and designs on a wide variety of materials such as paper, plastic, glass, leather and metal. They are employed by commercial printing companies; newspapers, magazines, and other publishing companies; and establishments in the public and private sectors that have in-house printing departments.

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Job Duties for Printing press operators

• Review job orders to determine job specifications such as production time, colour sequence and quantities required, and advise press crew of these specifications
• Mount plates or cylinders and make necessary adjustments
• Fill ink fountains and take measurements, make adjustments and determine settings to control colour and viscosity
• Set up press and check samples for ink coverage, alignment and registration
• Monitor regular press runs for quality and consistency using computer control console and make adjustments as required
• Remove and clean plates and cylinders at end of press run
• Direct activities of press crew and ensure that safety procedures are adhered to.

Working Conditions for Printing press operators

Work is performed in press rooms with repeated bending and carrying heavy materials. Safety measures are in place to prevent injury from printing machinery.

Alternate Job Titles

• Apprentice Press Operator
• Apprentice Press Operator - Printing
• Apprentice Pressman/woman
• Apprentice Pressman/woman - Printing
• Apprentice Printing Press Operator
• Assistant Press Operator - Printing
• Assistant Pressman/woman
• Assistant Pressman/woman - Printing
• Commercial Press Operator
• Cylinder Press Operator - Printing
• Cylinder Press Set-up Operator
• Cylinder Pressman/woman - Printing
• Cylinder Printing Press Set-up Operator
• First Press Operator - Printing
• First Pressman/woman
• First Pressman/woman - Printing
• Flat-bed Press Set-up Operator
• Flexographic Press Adjuster
• Flexographic Press Operator
• Flexographic Press Set-up Technician - Printing
• Flexographic Pressman/woman
• Gravure Press Operator
• Gravure Pressman/woman
• Gravure Printer - Printing
• Gravure Printing Press Operator
• Gravure Proof Press Operator - Printing
• Gravure Proof Puller - Printing
• Gravure Proof Wallpaper Puller
• Ink Evaluation And Press Operator - Printing
• Ink Evaluation Pressman/woman - Printing
• Intaglio Printer - Printing
• Intaglio Printing Press Operator
• Job Printer
• Letterpress Operator - Printing
• Letterpress Proof Press Operator - Printing
• Letterpress Proof Puller - Printing
• Lithographic Offset Proofer
• Lithographic Offset Proofing Hand
• Lithographic Press Operator - Printing
• Lithographic Pressman/woman - Printing
• Lithographic Printer
• Newspaper Press Operator
• Newspaper Pressman/woman
• Offset Lithographic Proof Press Operator - Printing
• Offset Machine Operator
• Offset Press Operator
• Offset Press Operator - Printing
• Offset Pressman/woman - Printing
• Offset Printer
• Photoengraved Plate Proof Press Operator - Printing
• Photoengraved Plate Proof Puller - Printing
• Plastic Sheet Offset Press Operator
• Platen Press Operator - Printing
• Platen Press Tender
• Press Operator - Printing
• Pressman/woman - Printing
• Printer
• Printing Press Assistant Operator
• Printing Press Operator
• Printing Technologist
• Proof Press Operator
• Proof Press Operator - Printing
• Proof Pressman/woman - Printing
• Proofer - Printing
• Proofing Hand - Printing
• Proofing Press Operator
• Rotary Offset Press Operator
• Rotary Press Operator
• Rotogravure Press Operator - Printing
• Rotogravure Pressman/woman - Printing
• Rotoprinter - Printing
• Senior Press Operator - Printing
• Senior Pressman/woman - Printing
• Sheet Metal Lithographic Press Operator
• Sheet Metal Lithographic Pressman/woman
• Thermographic Printer
• Wallpaper Gravure Proof Press Operator
• Wallpaper Rotogravure Press Operator
• Web Press Operator - Printing
• Web Pressman/woman - Printing
• Flexo Print Press Operator
• General Labourer/printing Facility
• Digital Print Production Operator
• Printing Job Opportunities - Hired On In 5 Weeks!
• Printing Production Associates
• Packers, Printing Industry
• Lithography Technician
• Screen Print Productions Operator
• Press Operator Assistant