Section Leader - Lithography in Port Talbot

Candour Talent are currently recruiting for a Section Leader - Lithography to join our client based in Port Talbot.

• Location: Port Talbot
• Employment Type: Permanent/Full Time
• Working Hours: Mon-Fri Days
• Salary: Circa 42-44k
• Benefits: Excellent, including private medical insurance, life assurance, electric car scheme, workplace pension, and company sick pay scheme

Our client is looking for a Section Leader to head up its highly skilled lithography team at their manufacturing facility in Port Talbot.

The Role

• The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall technical leadership, development, performance, and continuous improvement of the lithography section, with particular focus on dry offset printing, coating application, colour control, print quality, and process optimisation.
• You will act as the technical expert for the lithographic printing process and has day-to-day responsibility for the technical performance, people development, machine condition, tooling readiness, process control, and continuous improvement of the section.
• The role requires a strong practical and technical understanding of dry offset printing principles, including coating and varnish application, ink formulation and colour matching, matt and gloss levels, trapping, dot gain, reprographics, and print process control.
• You will work closely with the Pre-Press Department, ensuring artwork, print plates, coatings, inks, varnishes, colour standards, and other print materials are correct and available before production.
• You will also collaborate directly with customers during first-off proofing, colour approval, and product launch visits to ensure agreed targets and expectations are achieved.
• During planned maintenance windows, shutdowns, and major engineering interventions, you will be required to will work closely with the maintenance engineering team to coordinate and deliver maintenance and improvement activities across the lithography equipment.

The Ideal Candidate

• Significant experience of dry offset printing, with a strong technical knowledge of offset printing machinery, coating systems, curing ovens, tooling, and print-process control.
• Good understanding of inks, coatings, varnishes, colour formulation, and colour matching.
• Strong understanding of trapping, dot gain, registration, colour sequence, and reprographic principles.
• Practical knowledge of matt and gloss finishes and the factors affecting finished appearance.
• Experience working with Pre-Press, reprographics, print plates, and artwork preparation.
• Experience of coaching, training, and developing printing personnel and able to coach and transfer specialist lithographic knowledge effectively.
• Experience with machinery fault finding and preventative maintenance.
• Good understanding of Lean Manufacturing, SMED, 5S and continuous improvement principles.
• Experience working directly with customers and suppliers.
• Strong Health & Safety awareness, particularly in relation to inks, coatings, chemicals, and printing equipment.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent problem-solving and Root Cause Analysis capability.
• Organised, reliable and able to manage multiple technical priorities.
• Flexible and willing to provide reasonable out-of-hours technical support when required.
• Visible and supportive leadership style with visible presence on the factory floor.

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