Company Summary:
Plastic Ingenuity is committed to providing innovative, high-quality packaging for the food, healthcare, and consumer goods industries. At the company's heart are five core values that define who we are and why we have sustained success since 1972. We are friendly and genuine, fostering authentic connections with colleagues and clients alike. Resourcefulness defines our approach, allowing us to turn challenges into opportunities. Collaboration is ingrained in our process, uniting diverse perspectives to identify creative solutions. Total customer focus drives us; we listen intently, respond promptly, and consistently exceed expectations. Lastly, we are dependable doers, letting our actions speak louder than words. These values are the cornerstone of Plastic Ingenuity.
Role Summary:
The Tooling Technician is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and readiness of production tooling, including molds, dies, and bladder assemblies. This role ensures tooling operates at optimal performance to support safe, efficient, and high-quality production. The ideal candidate has strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and the ability to follow structured maintenance procedures.
Key Responsibilities
Tool Maintenance & Repair
- Disassemble, clean, inspect, and rebuild production tooling.
- Diagnose wear patterns and identify potential tooling failures.
- Replace worn or damaged components such as bushings, guide pins, springs, fasteners, O-rings, and wear plates.
- Reassemble tooling to specification and verify functionality.
- Document all maintenance and repair activities.
Mold & Tool Changeovers
- Safely remove and install molds during production changeovers.
- Assist with mold setup, alignment, and verification.
- Ensure tooling is properly installed and production-ready prior to startup.
- Support troubleshooting during initial production runs after changeover.
Bladder Maintenance
- Disassemble, clean, and inspect bladder assemblies.
- Rebuild and reassemble bladders to proper specifications.
- Replace bladder components as needed.
- Verify integrity and correct installation prior to use.
Die Set Maintenance
- Maintain die sets to ensure consistent cutting performance.
- Replace bushings and wear components as needed.
- (Optional) Perform sharpening of cutting edges depending on process direction.
- Monitor die condition and recommend refurbishment or replacement.
Preventative Maintenance & Documentation
- Perform scheduled preventative maintenance on molds, dies, and tooling.
- Maintain accurate logs of maintenance, repairs, and inspections.
- Track component wear and establish replacement intervals.
- Communicate tooling issues to engineering and leadership.
Shop Organization & Support
- Maintain a clean, safe, and organized tooling maintenance area.
- Ensure tooling components are labeled, stored, and accessible.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
- Strong mechanical aptitude
- Experience with hand and power tools
- Ability to read basic mechanical drawings (preferred)
- Experience in manufacturing or tooling environments (preferred)
- Attention to detail and documentation discipline
- Ability to work independently and on a team
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift tooling components (up to ~50 lbs or more with assistance)
- Frequent standing, bending, and manual work
- Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment