Wood fuel pelletiser

Wood fuel pelletisers operate a hammer mill to turn wood waste products into pellets for use as fuel. The milled product is afterward pressed through a die, producing the standardised shape and size of a pellet.

The following job titles also refer to wood fuel pelletiser:

wood pelletiser worker
wood pellet machine worker
wood pellet machine operator
wood pelletiser technician
wood pellet machine technician
wood pelletiser operator
wood pelletiser
wood pellet machine specialist
wood pelletiser specialist

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a wood fuel pelletiser.

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.

Wood fuel pelletiser is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to wood fuel pelletiser.

nailing machine operator
engineered wood board machine operator
absorbent pad machine operator
wood pallet maker
veneer slicer operator

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

pulp control operator
automated assembly line operator
machine operator supervisor
industrial robot controller
welding inspector

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of wood fuel pelletiser.

• Wood moisture content: The amount of water contained in wood materials. The effect of wood moisture on the size and physical characteristics of the wood. Suitable moisture contents for different uses.
• Pellet standards: The standards for creating pellets in Europe, which regulate such characteristics as density, water content, and contents of the pellets.
• 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.

These skills are necessary for the role of wood fuel pelletiser.

• Operate pellet press: Set up and monitor the machine which consists of a large drum with perforated rollers with pellet-size holes through which the pellet mix is extruded before being sliced to obtain the desired length.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wood fuel pelletiser. 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.
• Maintain hammer mill: Maintain machinery and equipment used to crush or shred various materials to ensure that it is clean and in safe, working order. Perform routine maintenance on equipment and adjust when necessary, using hand and power tools.
• Operate hammer mill: Operate a mill that uses little hammers to shred various material into smaller pieces.
• Measure furnace temperature: Monitor the product temperature using the available tools and measuring instruments and adjust furnace temperature if needed.
• 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.
• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
• Operate heavy construction machinery without supervision: Work with heavy construction machinery independently without the intervention of a supervisor. Take responsibility for your decisions and actions.
• Weigh materials: Weigh materials and products, record weight and other relevant data on tags or labels.
• Identify hazards in the workplace: Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
• Conduct routine machinery checks: Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.
• 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.
• Provide advice to technicians: Offer help and advice to service technicians in case of machine malfunctions and other repair tasks.
• Use non-destructive testing equipment: Use specific non-destructive testing methods and equipment that do not cause any damage to the product, such as X-rays, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle inspection, industrial CT scanning and others, in order to find defects in and assure quality of a manufactured and a repaired product.
• Feed hoppers: Feed hoppers with the required materials using various tools such as lifting equipment or shovels.
• Prepare production reports: Prepare a comprehensive and unbiased report on wood technology production and progressive development of wood based materials.
• Dry wood: Adjust machine settings to adapt drying processes, drying times, and special treatments to the requirements of the requested wood to be dried.
• 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.
• Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
• Perform sample testing: Examine and perform tests on prepared samples; avoid any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination during the testing phase. Operate sampling equipment in line with design parameters.
• Repair hammer mill: Repair broken components or systems of machinery and equipment used for crushing or shredding various materials, using hand and power tools.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Prepare samples for testing: Take and prepare samples for testing, verify their representability; avoid bias and any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination. Provide clear numbering, labelling and recording of the sample details, in order to make sure that the results can be accurately matched to the original material.
• Inspect machinery: Check machine equipment for proper performance and detect faults and malfunctions. Diagnose malfunctions using testing equipment to determine the required repair.

8172 – Wood processing plant operators

References

1. Wood fuel pelletiser – ESCO