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Tribune Publishing

Press Operator

Chicago, IL

Overview

The Chicago Tribune is hiring a Press Operator to work at our manufacturing facility near downtown Chicago.

Using a high degree of teamwork and ownership, you'll operate the printing presses to produce high quality products in a timely and safe manner. This may require troubleshooting and repairing offset presses and related equipment. Additionally, you'll work toward achieving pressroom goals including print quality, reliability, newsprint waste, productivity.

This role will be working at night with shift time starting sometime between 6 PM - 9 PM depending on the specific need at time of hire.

The Freedom Center, located near River North, is where the Chicago Tribune --and many other newspapers--are printed. Enormous 1-ton rolls of paper are brought in by train and truck and stacked high in a cavernous warehouse. The rolls feed 10 large offset web printing presses, where cylinders with aluminum press plates and rubber blankets transfer ink to paper at blazing speeds. Inserting machines are then used to place millions of targeted advertising flyers into the newspaper for delivery.

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Responsibilities

To be competent in the following areas of press operation and perform additional duties as assigned:
  • Press Makeready
  • Reelroom operations
  • Press control systems (setting ink values) and all other related systems.
  • 4- color (registration, color/proof matching, plate moves, unit timing.
  • Folder setup and operation.
  • Press housekeeping and clean up.
To have general knowledge of:

Press Maintenance :
  • Maintenance of rollers, blankets, dampening system and lubrication of presses.
Inkroom :
  • Setup, supply and maintain various chemistries and ink that aid in the printing process.
Plateroom:
  • Complete platemaking process including registering color negatives.
  • Follow all safety rules and procedures.
  • Follow all of the standard operating procedures set forth by the Chicago Tribune Company.
  • Attend all training classes.
Qualifications

  • High School diploma or equivalent related experience.
  • Press Operators must have completed and approved apprentice program to achieve "journeyperson" status (approximately 4 year training program).
  • Good organizational and analytical skills in order to operate, troubleshoot and repair offset press equipment.
  • Journeypersons must be able to bend, climb stairs, ladders and lift up to 75 pounds as part of the physical
  • Strong interpersonal skills with mechanical abilities and the initiative to stay abreast of the technology enhancements made to the presses used at the Chicago Tribune Company.
  • Able to work any shift, weekends and holidays

Client-provided location(s): Chicago, IL, USA
Job ID: tronc-4413
Employment Type: Other

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