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Sector : 13 - Communications and Documentation

8730 Silk-Screen Printing Press Assistant

M730

Field of application	Silk-screen printing press assistants work in silk-screen printing companies that produce banners, flags, signs, posters, clothing, etc. In small companies, silk-screen printing press assistants can undertake all the tasks performed by silk-screen printers; however, in large companies, the press operator is responsible for ensuring the operation of the press and the colourist is responsible for preparing the inks. Manual silk-screen printing tables, or semi- or fully automatic silk-screen printing presses may be used. Printing substrates include different kinds of paper, cardboards, plastics (styrene, Corroplast, acrylic, etc.), composite materials, glass, wood, fabrics and ceramics.
Other job titles	Screen printing press room assistant, silk-screen press assistant

Field of application

Silk-screen printing press assistants work in silk-screen printing companies that produce banners, flags, signs, posters, clothing, etc. In small companies, silk-screen printing press assistants can undertake all the tasks performed by silk-screen printers; however, in large companies, the press operator is responsible for ensuring the operation of the press and the colourist is responsible for preparing the inks. Manual silk-screen printing tables, or semi- or fully automatic silk-screen printing presses may be used. Printing substrates include different kinds of paper, cardboards, plastics (styrene, Corroplast, acrylic, etc.), composite materials, glass, wood, fabrics and ceramics.

Other job titles

Screen printing press room assistant, silk-screen press assistant

823001 - Prepare the printing substrates (cardboards, plastics, composite materials, etc.)	Add to my plan	1
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Compliance with work instructions Proper application of work techniques Proper use of tools and equipment Concern for company profitability Tasks Receive instructions from the person in charge regarding the type and format of printing substrates. Bring the material. Measure the dimensions of the printing substrates. Verify the guillotine (condition of the blade, functionality, etc.). Trim sheets of paper, cardboards, plastic or composite materials. Verify the quality of the printing substrates (proper squaring, conformance with instructions, etc.). Pile the prepared printing substrates. Package the prepared printing substrates and store them on shelves or racks, or bring them near the manual silk-screen printing table or silk-screen printing press. Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

823001 - Prepare the printing substrates (cardboards, plastics, composite materials, etc.)

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Compliance with work instructions
Proper application of work techniques
Proper use of tools and equipment
Concern for company profitability

Tasks

Receive instructions from the person in charge regarding the type and format of printing substrates.
Bring the material.
Measure the dimensions of the printing substrates.
Verify the guillotine (condition of the blade, functionality, etc.).
Trim sheets of paper, cardboards, plastic or composite materials.
Verify the quality of the printing substrates (proper squaring, conformance with instructions, etc.).
Pile the prepared printing substrates.
Package the prepared printing substrates and store them on shelves or racks, or bring them near the manual silk-screen printing table or silk-screen printing press.
Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

823002 - Prepare the screens	Add to my plan	2
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Compliance with work instructions Compliance with quality standards Correct interpretation of the steps involved in silk-screen printing Proper application of work techniques Meticulous handling of screens Concern for company profitability Tasks Receive instructions from the person in charge. Select screen mesh counts according to the particular requirements of the project (very fine, fine, slightly coarse, etc.). Inside the darkroom, apply emulsion on the silk-screens and let it dry. Position the positives onto the emulsified screens. Set up the screens, one by one, to be exposed; determine the length of exposure and start up the equipment. Remove the screens from the source of light. Check the quality of the burned screen (opacity of image, etc.). Wash the screens in a bin or container: hose off and dry the screens. Apply a product to hide defects. Bring the screens near the manual silk-screen table or press. When the printing process is complete, clean the screens in order to remove the inks, emulsion and ghost images. Bring the screens to the darkroom and place them in the storage area. Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

823002 - Prepare the screens

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Compliance with work instructions
Compliance with quality standards
Correct interpretation of the steps involved in silk-screen printing
Proper application of work techniques
Meticulous handling of screens
Concern for company profitability

Tasks

Receive instructions from the person in charge.
Select screen mesh counts according to the particular requirements of the project (very fine, fine, slightly coarse, etc.).
Inside the darkroom, apply emulsion on the silk-screens and let it dry.
Position the positives onto the emulsified screens.
Set up the screens, one by one, to be exposed; determine the length of exposure and start up the equipment.
Remove the screens from the source of light.
Check the quality of the burned screen (opacity of image, etc.).
Wash the screens in a bin or container: hose off and dry the screens.
Apply a product to hide defects.
Bring the screens near the manual silk-screen table or press.
When the printing process is complete, clean the screens in order to remove the inks, emulsion and ghost images.
Bring the screens to the darkroom and place them in the storage area.
Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

823003 - Feed ink into the semi- or fully automatic silk-screen printing press	Add to my plan	2
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Compliance with work instructions Compliance with quality standards staying within the limits of the occupation Proper application of work techniques Proper use of tools and equipment Tasks Receive instructions from the person in charge regarding the types of inks and colours. Interpret a colour chart (yellow, cyan, magenta and black). Select inks (flexographic, water-based or ultraviolet curing inks). Adjust and then mix products such as additives and solvents. Ensure the consistency of colours with instructions. Pour the ink in the designated locations.

823003 - Feed ink into the semi- or fully automatic silk-screen printing press

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Compliance with work instructions
Compliance with quality standards
staying within the limits of the occupation
Proper application of work techniques
Proper use of tools and equipment

Tasks

Receive instructions from the person in charge regarding the types of inks and colours.
Interpret a colour chart (yellow, cyan, magenta and black).
Select inks (flexographic, water-based or ultraviolet curing inks).
Adjust and then mix products such as additives and solvents.
Ensure the consistency of colours with instructions.
Pour the ink in the designated locations.

823004 - Prepare the manual silk-screen printing table, or the semi- or fully automatic silk-screen press	Add to my plan	2
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Compliance with work instructions Compliance with quality standards Correct interpretation of the steps involved in silk-screen printing Proper application of work techniques Proper use of tools and equipment Meticulous handling of screens Concern for company profitability Tasks Receive instructions from the person in charge. Set up or make adjustments. Prepare a template and place it on the manual silk-screen table or on the semi- or fully automatic silk-screen press. Place the printing substrate on the printer. Place the screen on top and fix it into place. Check the quality of the fixation. Check the quality of the scraper. Align and set up the scraper and counter-scraper. Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

823004 - Prepare the manual silk-screen printing table, or the semi- or fully automatic silk-screen press

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Compliance with work instructions
Compliance with quality standards
Correct interpretation of the steps involved in silk-screen printing
Proper application of work techniques
Proper use of tools and equipment
Meticulous handling of screens
Concern for company profitability

Tasks

Receive instructions from the person in charge.
Set up or make adjustments.
Prepare a template and place it on the manual silk-screen table or on the semi- or fully automatic silk-screen press.
Place the printing substrate on the printer.
Place the screen on top and fix it into place.
Check the quality of the fixation.
Check the quality of the scraper.
Align and set up the scraper and counter-scraper.
Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

823005 - Carry out printing tasks on a manual silk-screen printing table	Add to my plan	2
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Compliance with work instructions Compliance with quality standards Proper application of work techniques Proper use of tools and equipment Meticulous handling of screens Concern for company profitability Concern for using materials sparingly Demonstration of a keen sense of observation Tasks Receive instructions from the person in charge. Ink the screen. Spread the first ink with the scraper in back-and-forth movements while placing appropriate pressure on the silk-screen. Remove the printing substrate and place it on the frames to let it dry. Check the quality of the work. Repeat the process of setting up and printing as often as necessary to obtain the final product (second stencil and second colour, etc.). Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

823005 - Carry out printing tasks on a manual silk-screen printing table

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Compliance with work instructions
Compliance with quality standards
Proper application of work techniques
Proper use of tools and equipment
Meticulous handling of screens
Concern for company profitability
Concern for using materials sparingly
Demonstration of a keen sense of observation

Tasks

Receive instructions from the person in charge.
Ink the screen.
Spread the first ink with the scraper in back-and-forth movements while placing appropriate pressure on the silk-screen.
Remove the printing substrate and place it on the frames to let it dry.
Check the quality of the work.
Repeat the process of setting up and printing as often as necessary to obtain the final product (second stencil and second colour, etc.).
Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

526 - Package the printed products	Add to my plan	1
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Compliance with work instructions Proper application of work techniques Correct handling of products Tasks Count or weigh the products to ensure quantity control. Place the printed products in boxes. Stack the boxes on pallets. Operate the packaging equipment. Print the labels. Affix the labels on the packages. Fill out the administrative forms and send them to the appropriate department or person.

526 - Package the printed products

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Compliance with work instructions
Proper application of work techniques
Correct handling of products

Tasks

Count or weigh the products to ensure quantity control.
Place the printed products in boxes.
Stack the boxes on pallets.
Operate the packaging equipment.
Print the labels.
Affix the labels on the packages.
Fill out the administrative forms and send them to the appropriate department or person.

823006 - Assist the press operator in maintaining a manual silk-screen printing table, or semi- or fully automatic silk-screen printing press	Add to my plan	2
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Observance of environmental laws and regulations Compliance with work instructions Observance of manufacturer’s specifications staying within the limits of the occupation Proper application of work techniques Proper use of equipment and cleaning products Cleanliness of the press Tasks Recover the ink. Clean the scraper and counter-scraper. Lubricate the components. Check the belts and gears. Clean the silk-screen printing press. Report any signs of breakage to the press operator or maintenance service.

823006 - Assist the press operator in maintaining a manual silk-screen printing table, or semi- or fully automatic silk-screen printing press

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Observance of environmental laws and regulations
Compliance with work instructions
Observance of manufacturer’s specifications
staying within the limits of the occupation
Proper application of work techniques
Proper use of equipment and cleaning products
Cleanliness of the press

Tasks

Recover the ink.
Clean the scraper and counter-scraper.
Lubricate the components.
Check the belts and gears.
Clean the silk-screen printing press.
Report any signs of breakage to the press operator or maintenance service.

528 - Transport materials and printed products	Add to my plan	1
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Compliance with work instructions Proper application of work techniques Proper use of handling equipment Tasks Receive instructions from the person in charge. Verify the condition of the handling equipment. Place materials and printed products on a dolly, handcart or manual pallet truck, or lift them using an electric pallet truck. Move the materials within the company. Place the materials or printed products in the designated areas. Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

528 - Transport materials and printed products

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Compliance with work instructions
Proper application of work techniques
Proper use of handling equipment

Tasks

Receive instructions from the person in charge.
Verify the condition of the handling equipment.
Place materials and printed products on a dolly, handcart or manual pallet truck, or lift them using an electric pallet truck.
Move the materials within the company.
Place the materials or printed products in the designated areas.
Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

527 - Help maintain the work area	Add to my plan	1
Performance criteria Observance of occupational health and safety rules Observance of environmental laws and regulations Compliance with work instructions Observance of maintenance schedule Proper application of work techniques Compliance with storage plan Concern for using materials sparingly Tasks Clean the press accessories and put them away. Clean the tools and put them away. Put away the raw materials and cleaners. Salvage scrap materials for recycling and dispose of waste (rags, garbage, etc.). Clean and sweep the work area.

527 - Help maintain the work area

Performance criteria

Observance of occupational health and safety rules
Observance of environmental laws and regulations
Compliance with work instructions
Observance of maintenance schedule
Proper application of work techniques
Compliance with storage plan
Concern for using materials sparingly

Tasks

Clean the press accessories and put them away.
Clean the tools and put them away.
Put away the raw materials and cleaners.
Salvage scrap materials for recycling and dispose of waste (rags, garbage, etc.).
Clean and sweep the work area.

Optional competency or task. Competencies or tasks marked with this symbol are not required in all workplaces. They could be included in a student’s training plan if the practicum setting offers the opportunity for the student to apply them.