Paper pulp moulding operator

Paper pulp moulding operators tend a machine that moulds paper pulp in various shapes, usually for use in lightweight but sturdy packaging material, such as egg boxes.

The following job titles also refer to paper pulp moulding operator:

paper pulp moulding technician
paper pulp moulding specialist
paper pulp moulding worker
paper pulp moulding machine operator
paper pulp moulding machine technician
paper pulp moulding operative
paper pulp moulding machinist
paper pulp moulding machine specialist

No formal educational credential is generally required to work asa paper pulp moulding operator.

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.

Paper pulp moulding operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to paper pulp moulding operator.

tissue paper perforating and rewinding operator
pulp technician
froth flotation deinking operator
nailing machine operator
paper machine operator

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

pulp control operator
automated assembly line operator
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
industrial robot controller
machine operator supervisor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of paper pulp moulding operator.

• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Types of moulded fibres: Field of information which distinguishes different kinds of moulded fibres such as thickwall, transfer moulded, thermoformed, and processed fibre types.
• Types of pulp: Kinds of pulp are distinguished based on their fibre type and the specific chemical processes through which they were created.

These skills are necessary for the role of paper pulp moulding operator.

• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Monitor conveyor belt: Monitor the flow of the work pieces on the conveyor belt as they are processed by the machine to ensure optimal productivity.
• Use moulding techniques: Apply moulding techniques.
• Monitor pulp quality: Avoid lesser quality and lower grades of recycled paper and pulp by keeping an eye open for stickies, plastics, colour, unbleached fibres, brightness, and dirt.
• Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
• Maintain mould parts: Carry out minor repair tasks and maintenance of moulds and mould parts.
• Supply machine: Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
• Operate pulp moulding machine: Shape paperboard flats by using formation moulds, which vacuum pulp and windsoft the excess material. Transfer the materials to a conveyor belt. Apply waterproof lubricants so the flats won’t stick to the mould and put the flats in an oven, after which the rigid material is stacked and made ready to be packaged.
• Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.

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

• Deinking processes: Various deinking processes such as flotation, bleaching, and washing. These are used to remove ink from the paper in preparation for producing new paper.

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

• Tend packaging machines: Tend packaging machines such as filling, labelling, and sealing machines. Stock and sort products to be processed according to specifications. Replenish packaging supplies as required, such as boxes, cartons, wrapping paper, plastic sheet, glue, ink, or labels.
• Test paper production samples: Acquire test samples at various stages of the paper deinking and paper recycling process. Process the samples, e.g. by adding a measured amount of dye solution, and test them to determine values such as the pH level, the tear resistance or the degree of disintegration.
• Select mould types: Select the appropriate type and size of mould based on the operation.
• 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.
• Grade pulp: Oversee pulp quality based on their pulping process, raw materials, yield, fibre length and other categories such as dirt, moisture content, porosity, density, and brightness.
• Monitor gauge: Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• Concentrate pulp slurry: Measure the weight and concentration of the pulp slurry for further processing and storage by using disk filters and calculating slurry density with specific formulas.
• Maintain recycling records: Maintain records and process facts and figures about type and volume of different recycling operations.
• Dispose of non-hazardous waste: Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
• Feed pulp mixing vat: Open valve to admit water into pulp-mixing vat. Weigh and dump specified amounts of different ingredients such as scrap paper, rosin, wax and other binders into the vat. Transfer the mixed slurry to a storage or slurry tank.
• Extract products from moulds: Remove finished products from moulds and examine them in detail for anomalies.
• Perform machine maintenance: Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
• Prepare production reports: Prepare a comprehensive and unbiased report on wood technology production and progressive development of wood based materials.
• Coordinate shipments of recycling materials: Coordinate and oversee shipments of recycling materials. Communicate with processing companies and shipping brokers.
• Consult technical resources: Read and interpret such 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.
• Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
• Clean moulds: Clean the mould using water, grease or oil, washing and scraping them by hand.
• Adjust curing ovens: Adjust the temperature of the curing ovens by turning dials so that it is set to the correct parameters.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Operate pulper: Set up and monitor the blender that crushes wastepaper and dry pulp sheets and mixes them with water to produce slurry for the production of paper and paper-related products.

8171 – Pulp and papermaking plant operators

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References

1. Paper pulp moulding operator – ESCO