Southern Cross Campus
Plastics Technician Kaihangarau Kirihou
Plastics technicians set up, adjust, maintain and repair machines that manufacture plastic products.
Plastics technicians may do some or all of the following:
- design and make tools and machinery
- set up and calibrate machines
- set amount of plastics produced each hour
- operate and monitor machines
- test machines and check the quality of plastic products
- repair and maintain tools and machines
- write operating manuals and flow charts
- train staff on how to use tools and machines.
Physical Requirements
Plastics technicians need to be fit and healthy as the job involves some lifting, and they spend long periods on their feet.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for plastics technicians includes:
- work with basic engineering equipment such as welders, lathes and power tools
- any work in the plastics, rubber or composites industry
- work as a mechanical engineer
- work in other factory jobs, particularly shift work.
Personal Qualities
Plastics technicians need to be:
- good at solving problems
- accurate, with an eye for detail
- skilled in drawing up plans and instructions
- accurate and methodical
- able to work independently and in a team
- responsible and safety-conscious.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for plastics technicians includes:
- work with basic engineering equipment such as welders, lathes and power tools
- any work in the plastics, rubber or composites industry
- work as a mechanical engineer
- work in other factory jobs, particularly shift work.
Subject Recommendations
NCEA Level 1 is recommended. Useful subjects include chemistry, construction and mechanical technologies, maths, processing technologies and physics.
Plastics Technicians can earn around $19-$25 per hour per year.
Chances of getting a job as a Plastics Technician are good due to a shortage of people interested in this type of work.
Plastic technicians may progress to supervisory or management roles.
Plastics technicians may specialise in:
- die setting
- machine setting
- plastic moulding
- process engineering
- product designing
- toolmaking.
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