Precast moulder

Precast moulders handcast decorative and structural concrete building products such as fireplace units, blocks or coloured tiles. They use a portable concrete-mixing machine.

The duties of a precast moulder include, but are not limited to:

• Moulding bricks or tiles of various shapes and sizes by hand
• Smearing the insides of mould with thin coating of oil or dusting it with dry clay
• Kneading lumps of clay to obtain proper consistency and throwing it into a mould
• Pressing clay into mould by hand 
• Scraping off excess clay from mould
• Turning mould upside down to remove brick or tile

Precast moulders usually work full time. Part-time work and contractual jobs are available in some cities.

Occupational hazards may include respiratory problems, dermatologic problems, and injuries. Health risks include exposure exposure to flying particles of brick or tiles, dangerous fumes and dust, exposure to clay, paint and other materials, etc.

The following job titles also refer to precast moulder:

hand tile-moulder
pre-cast moulder
precast molder
pre-cast molder
cement-tile maker
brick veneer maker

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as precast moulder.

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.

Precast moulder is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to precast moulder.

slate mixer
electrolytic cell maker
hand brick moulder
dry press operator
wax bleacher

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

automated assembly line operator
wastewater treatment technician
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
air separation plant operator
corrosion technician

These skills are necessary for the role of precast moulder.

• Dump batches: Dump the batches into conveyors making sure the specifications such as the mixing time are followed.
• Reinforce concrete: Reinforce concrete by inserting reinforcing steel members.
• Cast concrete sections: Cast tops and bottoms or other electrolytic cells concrete sections using power tools.
• Remove finished casts: Open mould and safely remove the finished cast from within.
• Mix concrete: Use compact concrete mixers or various ad-hoc containers such as wheelbarrows to mix concrete. Prepare the correct quantities of cement, water, aggregate and optional added ingredients, and mix the ingredients until an homogenous concrete is formed.
• Settle concrete: Settle the concrete using the vibrating tables.
• Mix moulding and casting material: Measure and mix ingredients for casting and moulding materials, according to appropriate formula.
• Prevent casting adhesion: Prevent the casting sticking to the moulds by brushing the mould with oil, hot wax or graphite solution, according to the specification of each casting components.
• Ensure mould uniformity: Oversee uniformity of moulds. Use casting equipment and tools such as hand press.
• Feed concrete mixer: Feed the concrete mixer with cement, sand, water, rock or other required materials using the shovel, making sure the specifications are met.

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

• Personal protective equipment: Types of protective materials and equipment foreseen for various types of tasks such as general or specialised cleaning activities.
• Various types of sand: Types of sand materials and their composition, physical characteristics, use cases and possible issues.

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

• Transfer bricks: Transfer bricks from the dry-press to the kiln car, stacking them according to specifications.
• Operate furnace: Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting, to produce specified types of steel, or to finish other materials such as cokes. Set furnace controls to regulate temperatures and heating time.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• 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.
• Clean mixer: Perform the cleaning of mixers in order to prepare them for mixing different types of compounds.
• Pallets loading: Ability to load and unload pallets on vehicles in a safe way.

8114 – Cement, stone and other mineral products machine operators

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References

1. ESCO
2. Bricks and Tile Moulder, Hand in Glass and Creamics sector in India – TuCareers