Fiberglass laminator

Fiberglass laminators in a plant

Description

Fiberglass laminators mould fiberglass materials to form hulls and boat decks. They read blueprints and use hand and power tools to cut the composite materials. They apply waxes and lacquers, and prepare surfaces for the placement of fiberglass mats. They use resin-saturated fiberglass to bond wood reinforcing strips to cabin structures and decks. They also prepare materials exposing those to the right temperature. They check finished products for defects and make sure they comply with the specifications.

Includes people performing the manufacture of motor vehicles, aircrafts and wind turbines.

Fiberglass laminators typically do the following:

  • Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment.
  • Place materials into molds.
  • Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
  • Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.
  • Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Inspect production equipment.
  • Build production molds.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Select production input materials.
  • Load items into ovens or furnaces.
  • Repair parts or assemblies.
  • Apply adhesives to construction materials.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.

Working conditions

Fiberglass laminators, like most assemblers, work in manufacturing plants, and working conditions vary by plant and by industry. Many physically difficult tasks, such as tightening massive bolts or moving heavy parts into position, have been automated or made easier through the use of power tools. Assembly work, however, may still involve long periods of standing, sitting, or working on ladders.

Injuries and Illnesses

Some assemblers come into contact with potentially dangerous chemicals or fumes, but ventilation systems usually minimize any harmful effects. Other assemblers come into contact with oil and grease, and their work areas may be noisy. Fiberglass laminators and fabricators are exposed to fiberglass, which may irritate the skin; these workers must wear protective gear, such as gloves and long sleeves, and must use respirators for safety.

Work Schedules

Most assemblers and fabricators work full time. Some assemblers and fabricators work in shifts, which may require evening, weekend, and night work.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to fiberglass laminator:

fibreglass-spraying machine operator
fiberglass-spraying machine operator
fibreglass lamination technician
boat hull laminator
fibreglass laminator

Minimum qualifications

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a fiberglass laminator. On-the-job training is usually provided by the employers.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Fiberglass laminator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Fiberglass laminator career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to fiberglass laminator.

fibreglass machine operator
boat rigger
motor vehicle upholsterer
aircraft de-icer installer
surface treatment operator

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of fiberglass laminator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of fiberglass laminator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
rolling stock engine tester
aircraft engine tester
vessel engine tester
electromechanical engineering technician

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of fiberglass laminator.

  • Fibreglass laminating: Process of applying multiple layers of fiberglass, a strong lightweight plastic reinforced with glass fibre woven into mats, using various techniques such as applying pressure or adhesives, welding or heating in order to provide strength and stability to the composite material. The fibreglass can also be sprayed in liquid form onto products.
  • Chemical processes: The relevant chemical processes used in manufacture, such as purification, separation, emulgation and dispergation processing.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of fiberglass laminator.

  • Protect workpiece components from processing: Cover parts from being treated with chemicals in order to protect them.
  • Handle chemicals: Safely handle industrial chemicals; use them efficiently and ensure that no harm is done to the environment.
  • Apply preliminary treatment to workpieces: Apply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.
  • Select fibreglass: Select precut fibreglass mats to laminate surfaces of boat decks, hulls or golf carts according to technical plans and specifications.
  • Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
  • Saturate fibreglass mat with resin mixture: Apply plastic resin mixture, by using a brush, to the fibreglass mat. Press saturated mat into the mold to remove air bubbles and wrinkles, using a roller.
  • Use power tools: Operate power driven pumps. Use hand tools or power tools. Use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment.
  • Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
  • Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
  • Remove air bubbles from fibreglass: Use brushes and rollers to eliminate air bubbles that could weaken the fibreglass, to ensure perfect adherence of the resin to the product shell or to previous layers, and to avoid any structural defects.
  • Ensure vessel compliance with regulations: Inspect vessels, vessel components, and equipment; ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
  • Consult technical resources: Read and interpret technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
  • Read engineering drawings: Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
  • Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of fiberglass laminator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Quality assurance procedures: The procedures to inspect a product or system to ensure that it is according to specifications and requirements.
  • Composite materials: The properties of different materials developed in a laboratory, their usage per type of products, and how to create them.
  • Plastic resins: The process of heating hydrocarbons, forming and combining polymers to create plastic resins which are used to make different kinds of products.
  • Sanding techniques: The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of fiberglass laminator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Finish plastic products: Finish the product by sanding, branding and polishing the plastic surface.
  • Construct moulds: Construct moulds for the casting of objects in plaster, clay, glass, plastic or metal. Use casting machines and materials such as rubber, plaster or fibreglass.
  • Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
  • Mix chemicals: Mix chemical substances safely according to recipe, using the proper dosages.
  • Fasten wood reinforcing strips to vessel components: Use resin-saturated fiberglass to fasten wood reinforcing strips to boat decks and cabin structures.
  • Maintain moulds: Clean and repair moulds, e.g. by smoothening out imperfections on the surface.
  • Trim excess material: Trim surplus material of fabric such as fiberglass mats, cloth, plastics or rubber.
  • Apply a protective layer: Apply a layer of protective solutions such as permethrine to protect the product from damage such as corrosion, fire or parasites, using a spray gun or paintbrush.
  • Apply plastic resin layers: Choose the appropriate plastic resin and apply it to surfaces or molds to form the basis for plastic products or enhance the stiffness of other materials such as graphite sheets. Repeat layers until products have the desired thickness.
  • Perform general maintenance on ship exteriors: Perform maintenance tasks on ship exteriors e.g. cleaning, painting, sanding, fibreglass restoration, varnishing, polishing, finishing, carpentry, etc.
  • Repair laminated structures: Inspect fiberglass laminated structures such as boat hulls and decks for deterioration or defects, and perform repair work accordingly.
  • Operate fibreglass spray gun: Operate a gun which cuts the incoming fiberglass strands to the desired lenghts, propels the pieces into the catalyzed resin when it comes out of the gun, and sprays the substance onto products to be laminated.
  • Operate lifting equipment: Transport heavy objects using lifting equipment such as cranes, forklifts etc.
  • Fasten components: Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
  • Lead inspections: Lead inspections and the protocol involved, such as introducing the inspection team, explaining the purpose of the inspection, performing the inspection, requesting documents and asking appropriate questions.

ISCO group and title

8142 – Plastic products machine operators


References
  1. Fiberglass laminator – ESCO
  2. Assemblers and Fabricators: Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  3. Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators – O*NET Online
  4. Featured image: By Windywocket – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated on July 20, 2022

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