Career Overview
Operate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining veneer sheets into plywood; gluing paper; or joining rubber and rubberized fabric parts, plastic, simulated leather, or other materials.
Also Known As
- Coater Operator
- Glue Line Operator
- Machine Operator
- Utility Worker
Alternate Job Titles
- Adhesive Laminator
- Automatic Gluing Machine Operator
- Automobile Brake Bonder
- Band Builder
- Band Edger
- Bead Preparer
- Bindery Operator
- Bindery Specialist
- Bindery Technician (Bindery Tech)
- Blanket Winder Operator
- Board Liner Operator
- Bonder
- Bonding Machine Operator
- Bonding Molder
- Book Jacket Cover Machine Operator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Align and position materials being joined to ensure accurate application of adhesive or heat sealing.
- Adjust machine components according to specifications such as widths, lengths, and thickness of materials and amounts of glue, cement, or adhesive required.
- Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions and report or resolve problems.
- Start machines, and turn valves or move controls to feed, admit, apply, or transfer materials and adhesives, and to adjust temperature, pressure, and time settings.
- Fill machines with glue, cement, or adhesives.
- Perform test production runs and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that completed products meet standards and specifications.
- Examine and measure completed materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as tape measures, gauges, or calipers.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Static Strength
- Manual Dexterity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Trunk Strength
- Control Precision
- Near Vision
- Finger Dexterity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Rate Control
- Reaction Time
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Stress Tolerance
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Adhesive feeders
- Adhesive melters
- Adhesive meters
- Adhesive pattern controllers
- Adhesive pumps
- Air compressors
- Automatic glue spreaders
- Beta gauges
- Cleaning scrapers
- Digital calipers
- Drum pumps
- Edge gluers
- Electric heat guns
- Extrusion laminators
- Fiberization guns
Work Environment
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Standing
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $31,290 |
| Median | $45,210 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $60,420 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 12,170
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,390
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,700
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $39,700
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,130
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $48,630
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.