5422 — Printers

What this occupation covers

Printers set up and operate various small offset printing presses and digital printing processes.

Typical duties

positions form or plate on machine, checks alignments and sets press

mixes and loads inks and solvents, loads paper and regulates during print run

prints and examines proof copies and adjusts press as necessary

starts or directs start of printing run and monitors machine to ensure that printing proceeds smoothly

pours colour into machine or directly on to screen and positions screen over item

operates squeegee by hand or machine to press colour through screen

dips wooden pattern block into colour tray and lays different colours on top of, and adjacent to, others to form the required pattern

produces, transfers and outputs digital print images

maintains, adjusts, repairs and cleans machine

keeps production records

Entry routes and qualifications

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically received on-the-job. Traineeships and apprenticeships in Machine Printing are available at NVQ/SVQ levels 2 and 3.

Sponsorship information

Medium Skilled. Actual duties, sponsor, applicant, salary and any transitional or shortage-list conditions must be checked.

DBS assessment

No code-wide DBS assessment is assigned. Check actual duties, activities, workplace, frequency and jurisdiction. This code does not determine the level of check.

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