Press Operator

About the role

The Press Operator will run rubber moulding presses to produce high‑quality automotive components. You will ensure safe, efficient operation while meeting production targets and adhering to IATF 16949, ISO 9001 and company safety standards.

Key responsibilities

• Set up and operate compression, transfer or injection moulding presses.
• Install moulds, set process parameters and perform start‑up checks.
• Load raw rubber compounds and monitor press performance, making minor adjustments as needed.
• Inspect finished parts for dimensional accuracy, surface finish and defects.
• Record production data, scrap, downtime and quality information.
• Report machine malfunctions, tooling defects and process abnormalities.
• Perform routine cleaning and basic preventative maintenance.
• Collaborate with Quality, Toolroom, Maintenance and Production teams to resolve issues.
• Participate in root‑cause investigations and continuous‑improvement projects.

Required profile

• Grade 12 (Matric) qualification.
• 3–5 years experience operating rubber moulding presses in an automotive environment.
• Experience with rubber compounding, moulding or extrusion manufacturing.
• Familiarity with automotive quality standards (IATF 16949, ISO 9001).

Required skills

• Rubber moulding press operation (compression, transfer, injection).
• Rubber compound handling and loading.
• Mould setup and installation.
• Process parameter setting and optimisation.
• Quality inspection and dimensional verification.
• Production data recording.
• Basic preventative maintenance and machine cleaning.