Plastics process operatives

Average National Salaries (2022)

What does this career do?

Plastics process operatives attend and operate moulding, extruding, thermoforming, calendering, covering, cutting and other process equipment to make and repair plastic products.

Typical tasks

• prepares machine for operation by affixing any necessary attachments weighs and mixes ingredients, loads machine with plastic to be worked or regulates flow from feed conveyor or hopper monitors controls regulating temperature, pressure, etc. and operates moulding, extruding, calendering, thermoforming and covering machines inspects plastic products for defects, takes measurements and repairs plastic belting and sheathing trims, cuts and performs other finishing operations on plastic using hand and machine tools makes artificial eyes and contact lens discs, and makes and repairs spectacle frames and plastic parts of artificial limbs and other orthopaedic appliances

Current entry requirements

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job, supplemented by specialised courses. NVQs/SVQs in Performing Manufacturing Operations at Levels 1 and 2 and apprenticeships are available.

Percentage in work

• Employed

• Unemployed

Predicted employment status in 2022

• Part-time

• Full-time

Predicted employment levels in the East Midlands

Career related courses available at West Notts

• Chemistry A Level - Level 3

About the statistics

Data is powered by LMI for All and is sourced from labour market statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Institute for Employment Research, the Department for Works and Pensions, and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.