Definition
A 2nd Pressman is a person who is associated with the printing of the press and other printing materials. They are concerned with operating machines and equipment used for printing purposes. 2nd Pressmen are often referred to as printing press operators. Don’t confuse a 1st pressman with a 2nd pressman. They are both different as the 1st pressman serves as the leader of the 2nd pressman. The 1st pressman has authority over the 2nd pressman and can guide them in case of any issues.
Responsibilities
A 2nd Pressman must be able to work with extreme efficiency. An employee in any field must exhibit specific characteristics that make the working environment pleasant for him and the other workers. These characteristics are known as soft skills. Soft skills at any workplace include things such as being a team player, being highly motivated, good attention to detail, and most of all, respect towards other co-workers.
However, the core responsibilities are also mandatory to be fulfilled, but any negligence in fulfilling these soft skills and obligations can also significantly affect the job. The specific job responsibilities of a 2nd pressman might vary depending upon the type of machine you operate. You may need to use traditional plate and roller methods to transfer images and textbooks from a device to pieces of paper. You might also handle a plaitless printing machine that uses electronic or digital printing forms. Whatever equipment is used, your duties as the 2nd pressman will also include:
- Communicating with a pre-press technician.
- Preparing equipment for the printing process.
- Handling the printing process to make sure that there are no errors.
Education and Training of 2nd Pressman
You might enroll in an associate’s degree program in graphic crafts technology at a trading academy or community college if you’re interested in completing a form of postsecondary education. Similar programs can give you the practical knowledge and vocational chops necessary to operate printing plates and oversee a printing press. They can also give you an educational background in typography, digital crafts, rendering, and graphic design.
License, Certificates, and Skills Required
Fortunately, becoming a pressman is not too challenging. Of course, you need some basic requirements and academic qualifications to get the position. These certifications and skills include things such as:
- High school diploma
- Press operator and diploma
- Certificate from a vocational high school
- Graphic art design Certificate
- Certification in printing technology
However, there are still certain skills you must possess to have a chance in the field; some that are specific to the role itself. This level of expertise that pressmen need to qualify for the job includes skills such as:
- Lean Manufacturing
- Printing Press
- Die Cutting
- Labeling
- Performance Management
- Quality Control
- Plating
- Preventive Maintenance
- PVC Pipe
- Press Machine Operation
Salary
Being a pressman can still reap salary benefits and facilities. But, keep in mind that this job is associated with people with medium-level education. Therefore, the salary of a 2nd pressman is lower than that of a 1st pressman. So, in these capacities, a pressman can earn an average of $37,000 per year in the United States. This equates to around $3,000 a month.
The Rise of the Industry
The Printing and Press Industry is ancient. However, this might be the only industry that has been heavily affected by the advancements of technology. As new tech is being introduced every day, people are moving towards using digital means of getting paper-related readings such as e-books replacing newspapers, e-magazines replacing their print counterparts, and TV being used instead of newspapers.
Employment
Gaining employment in this field might not be as straightforward for you. This is because there is not much demand for pressmen nowadays. As mentioned earlier, technology has taken over this industry. We can guide you to your desired role in becoming a pressman, but keep in mind that finding your first job can be difficult for you if you have no prior training or experience. It can also take a while to score your first position in the field. But, we recommend you to start with even the lowest possible field salary if you get the chance.
Now, the question may arise: where will I find my first opportunity? Here are the steps you can try out to get your first designation in the field. The first step is to look for opportunities on LinkedIn; you can also try job searching platforms such as Indeed, Jooble, and Monster. Lastly, you can also try our website for available vacancies.
