Description
Set up, operate, and maintain rotogravure printing presses, installing engraved cylinders and controlling inks, solvents, web tension, register, and drying systems to produce consistent, high-quality prints on paper, film, and foil for long-run production.
- • Examine job tickets to determine quantities, substrates, cylinders, inks, and special instructions.
- • Set dryer temperatures, airflow, and exhaust; verify safe LEL levels.
- • Mount and secure gravure cylinders; set impression and doctor blade pressures.
- • Thread substrate through unwind, print units, dryers, and rewind; set web tension.
- • Mix or obtain inks and solvents; adjust viscosity and temperature to specification.
- • Fill ink pans and set ink circulation and filtration systems.
- • Set and calibrate register controls and web guides.
- • Start press and pull proofs; check density, color, and registration.
- • Use densitometers or spectrophotometers to verify color and print quality.
- • Monitor press during runs; correct defects such as streaks, skips, pinholes, or smearing.
- • Adjust doctor blade angle, pressure, and end seals to maintain a clean wipe.
- • Adjust impression roller pressure and nip to maintain print quality.
- • Monitor and adjust ink viscosity and solvent balance during runs.
- • Monitor and adjust web tension and alignment for different substrates.
- • Replace cylinders, doctor blades, end seals, and rolls as required.
- • Clean cylinders, ink pans, and press components after runs.
- • Perform minor maintenance and lubrication; make simple repairs.
- • Monitor environmental conditions and ventilation; follow flammable ink safety procedures.
- • Record production data, waste, and downtime in press logs or MES.
- • Coordinate and direct press crew activities and job changeovers.
- • Manage inventory of cylinders, inks, solvents, blades, and substrates; request replenishment.
- • Operate or set up auxiliary equipment such as laminators, corona treaters, slitters, or inspection rewinders.
- • Monitor press control systems and respond to alarms or fault messages.
- • Verify that substrate, cylinders, and inks meet job specifications.
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
