How to become a Plastics and Composites Processor

Duties & Tasks of a Plastics and Composites Processor

Plastics and composites processors:

• Check machine settings and safety devices before their operation, set controls and start machines
• Mix and prepare materials to be moulded
• Prepare moulds or tooling for required lay-up
• Interpret material requirements and quantities for required lay-up
• Regulate the machine temperatures, pressures and speeds of operation of manually operated and semi-automatic equipment
• Extract mouldings and extrusions, cut off waste material, and trim and finish moulded components in accordance with machine cycle and quality specifications
• Assemble, install or secure moulded-in components
• Control feeding devices for wire and cable coating
• Control blending, compounding and drying equipment
• Maintain production and quality assessment records
• Apply surface coatings to moulds
• Apply core materials like foam, balsa and honeycomb structures to the laminate
• Apply resin/reinforcement matrix by hand or by machine
• Adjust resin chemicals for current conditions
• Use and select required ionising techniques for combining materials
• Trim and finish parts for assembly or final bonding
• Keep up to date with new and emerging technologies.

Tasks

• Examines output for defects and conformity to specifications.
• Monitors operation, regulates material supply and adds chemicals and colorants to mixture.
• Measures and loads materials, items and ingredients for mixing into machines and feeding mechanisms.
• Operates vulcaniser presses and controls curing.
• Performs minor repairs and maintains production records.
• Lays casings, beads, ply and rubber sheets on moulds.
• Operates rollers to remove air.
• Operates controls to regulate temperature, pressure, speed and flow of operation.
• Threads uncoated wire and cable through plastic coating machines, around take-up reels and through dies and cooling chambers.

Working conditions for a Plastics and Composites Processor

Plastics and composites processors may have to wear special safety equipment such as masks, gloves, glasses, ear protection and protective clothing, especially when using spray guns. Some of the tasks involved in composites production may require working in confined spaces. Plastics and composites processors may be required to work shifts.

Employment Opportunities for a Plastics and Composites Processor

Plastics and composites are increasingly replacing more traditional materials like steel and wood in many everyday products such as motor vehicles, aircraft, bicycles, furniture and household appliances. People with design flair and people who are good at solving practical problems are in particular demand.Plastics and composites processors are often employed in small to medium-sized manufacturing companies, making products or components for the aerospace, marine, construction, water and recycling industries. Experienced workers sometimes set up their own companies and others may work on a subcontract basis doing a broad range of composites work. Work on products such as boats, surfboards and swimming pools can be seasonal.

Specializations

Plastics and Composites Processor

Plastics and composites processors handle machinery that manufactures or finishes plastic or composite products by injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, blow film extrusion and other processes.

• 

  Average age

  42

• 

  Future Growth

  N/A

• 

  Gender Share

  6% female

• 

  Average full-time

  42 hours

• 

  Weekly Pay

  N/A

• 

  Skill level rating

  Entry level

• 

  Unemployment

  Lower unemployment

• 

  Full-Time Share

  84%

• 

  Employment Size

  830

• 

  Employment by state

  ACT: 0.0%
  NSW: 25.3%
  NT: 0.8%
  QLD: 26.8%
  SA: 7.9%
  TAS: 5.7%
  VIC: 22.7%
  WA: 10.9%
  
• 

  Age brackets

  15-19: 3.3%
  20-24: 11.1%
  25-34: 19.5%
  35-44: 20.5%
  45-54: 23.7%
  55-59: 11.1%
  60-64: 6.4%
  65 and Over: 4.4%
  
• 

  Education level

  Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 2%
  Bachelor degree: 1.9%
  Certificate III/IV: 28.8%
  Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 0.6%
  Year 10 and below: 35.7%
  Year 11: 9.8%
  Year 12: 21.2%