Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Career Overview

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

Also Known As

Equipment Technician
Extruder Operator
Extrusion Press Operator
Machine Operator

Alternate Job Titles

Core Extruder
Core Shaper
Draw Machine Operator
Drawbench Operator
Equipment Technician
Extruder Operator
Extruding Press Adjuster
Extruding Press Operator
Extrusion Machine Operator
Extrusion Operator
Extrusion Press Adjuster
Extrusion Press Operator
Floor Molder
Former
Forming Machine Operator

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.
Clean work areas.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

Production and Processing

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

Control Precision
Manual Dexterity
Multilimb Coordination
Reaction Time
Rate Control
Problem Sensitivity
Near Vision
Trunk Strength
Flexibility of Closure
Static Strength

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cautiousness
Achievement Orientation
Stress Tolerance

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

Support
Relationships
Independence
Working Conditions
Achievement

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

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 Outlook
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Word
SAP software

Tools & Equipment

Air cooling systems
Automatic vacuum pumps
Batch dryers
Billet heating furnaces
Billet loaders
Blown film extruders
Braiders
Burst testers
Conveyor augers
Desktop computers
Die changers
Die holders
Die shuffles
Die slides
Digital calipers

Work Environment

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
Frequency of Decision Making
Spend Time Standing

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$35,390
Median	$46,980
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$62,470

Workers Employed Nationally: 65,700