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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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73401.00 – Printing press operators

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. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Apprentice pressman/woman
  • Assistant pressman/woman
  • First pressman/woman
  • Flexographic press operator
  • Offset press operator
  • Printing press operator
  • Rotogravure pressman/woman - printing

Core competencies

  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to detect performance issues, adjust machine settings and ensure optimal print quality, while troubleshooting minor mechanical problems
  • Quality Control Testing to conduct routine checks on print quality, such as colour consistency, alignment and registration, adhering to job specifications
  • Control of Settings to adjusting ink flow, paper alignment, speed settings and quality checks, while following standard operating procedures
  • Near Vision to clearly see details at close range, such as inspecting printed materials for quality, aligning materials on presses and reading machinery controls gauges
  • Attention to Detail to meticulously monitor printing processes, inspect final outputs for colour consistency, alignment and clarity and make precise adjustments
  • Knowledge in Vehicle, Machinery and Equipment Operations to understand operating and maintaining printing machinery, including setting up presses, monitoring output and performing routine adjustments

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • 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.

Additional information

  • Progression to supervisory positions, such as pressroom supervisor, is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

73 – General trades

Sub-major group

734 – Operators, drillers and blasters

Minor group

7340 – Operators, drillers and blasters

Unit group

73401 – Printing press operators

Occupational profile

73401.00 – Printing press operators

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.