Set in-line converting or enhancing equipment
Overview
This standard is for people who set in-line converting and/or enhancing equipment on a printing machine. In-line converting or enhancing equipment is equipment which is used to apply a coating or other image-enhancing material to the substrate or any form of finishing or converting technique which is run in-line immediately before or after the printing units. It includes techniques such as cutting and creasing, rotary die-cutting, laminating, embossing, foiling and coating.
This kind of in-line converting equipment is found on sheet-fed and web-fed presses and usually consists of dedicated units or additional equipment fitted to printing units, which may also have their own supply of materials such as varnish, laminate, and foil.
In-line processes can add significant value to a product as well as creating productivity benefits by removing the need for a separate operation after printing. However, benefits can be lost if the set-up of the inline equipment takes too long, if the operation of the equipment slows down the print production to the point at which it would be more cost effective for the work to be done off-line (assuming that is possible) or if the equipment spoils an otherwise perfectly printed product. Operating the in-line converting or enhancing equipment therefore requires a speedy set up and the rectification of any problems so that the required converting or enhancing runs flawlessly during production.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Set in-line converting or enhancing equipment
- comply with health and safety requirements and procedures at all times
- obtain specifications and requirements of the items to be produced following standard operating procedures
- obtain equipment and materials required to carry out the job following standard operating procedures
- check equipment is set up and in good working order following standard operating procedures and any manufacturer's instructions
- check all materials required are to specification and free from faults
- mount dies, formes, cylinders and blankets onto or into the unit, ensuring that any register requirements are met
- install any enhancing materials to equipment following standard operating procedures
- produce samples from the equipment and check that it matches the required standards
- make adjustments when the standards are not met
- report if the standards cannot be met to the appropriate person(s)
**
Run and monitor in-line converting or enhancing equipment
**
11. run in-line converting or enhancing equipment to meet specifications
12. maintain supply of materials throughout the run following standard operating procedures
13. check that quality standards are met
14. identify the cause of faults following standard operating procedures
15. correct faults which it is your job to correct
16. report faults which are not your job to rectify
17. check machines are safe to run, once faults are corrected
18. co-operate with colleagues who are responsible for correcting faults
19. record the production and quality assurance details required
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
Health and Safety
- your duties and responsibilities for health and safety as defined by any specific legislation covering your job role
- manufacturer's health and safety requirements relevant to your job
- how to stop a machine in the event of an emergency
**
Communication
*
4. how to communicate with colleagues
*
Workplace policy and practice
*
5. workplace objectives, priorities, standards and procedures
6. the range of work carried out in the workplace
*
Time and resources
*
7. how to maximise productivity
*
The operation of equipment
*
8. the principles of in-line converting and enhancing equipment
9. the common types of cutting, folding and enhancing processes
10. the risks associated with in-line converting equipment and the material used in the converting process, and how to avoid them
11. the common in-line converting faults, what causes them and how to correct them
*
The causes and treatment of common faults
*
12. raw material faults
13. processing faults
14. machine faults
*
Administrative procedures
*
15. recording and reporting
*
Environmental
*
16. any specific environmental legislation that covers processes in your company
17. control of pollution
*
Quality assurance and control
*
18. techniques for controlling quality*
Problem solving
*
19. sources of information
20. techniques for assessing machine faults
*
Materials
**
21. the types and characteristics of paper, board and other commonly used substrates
22. the types and characteristics of inks and coatings
23. how to maintain the quality of materials during storage and handling