Gavin Watson Ltd is an established packaging and label printing company specialising in the production of high quality printed packaging and folding cartons.

We are looking for an experienced Folder Gluer / Carton Converting Machine Operator to join our production team. This is a hands on manufacturing role for someone who understands the demands of producing quality folding cartons from printed carton board and has previous experience operating folder gluer box making machinery.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for setting up, operating and monitoring our folding and gluing machinery, ensuring cartons are produced efficiently, accurately and to the required quality standards.

The Role

As a Folder Gluer Operator, you will be responsible for taking printed and die-cut carton board blanks through the folding and gluing process to produce finished folding cartons ready for packing and despatch. You will be expected to understand how carton board behaves during the converting process and be confident making machine adjustments to maintain accurate folding, glue application and finished carton quality.

Key responsibilities

• Set up and operate folder-gluer / carton converting machinery to produce folding cartons to specification.
• Read and understand job instructions, production specifications, drawings and folding/gluing requirements.
• Check printed and die-cut carton blanks before and during production.
• Set up feed systems, folding sections, glue application systems, delivery and associated machine components.
• Adjust machine settings to accommodate different carton board grades, board thicknesses, carton sizes and folding formats.
• Set and monitor glue application, ensuring correct positioning, coverage and adhesion.
• Monitor folding accuracy, squareness, compression and final carton appearance.
• Carry out regular quality checks throughout production and identify defects before they become a larger production issue.
• Make appropriate machine adjustments to maintain consistent production quality.
• Identify and rectify common production problems such as poor folding, cracking, mis-registration, glue skips, excessive glue, poor adhesion, carton distortion and feeding problems.
• Maintain consistent production speeds while ensuring quality is not compromised.
• Minimise material waste, rejects and machine downtime.
• Complete production records and quality checks accurately.
• Keep the machine and surrounding production area clean, organised and safe.
• Carry out routine operator maintenance and report mechanical or electrical faults promptly.
• Work closely with the production team and management to ensure jobs move efficiently through production.
• Follow all company health and safety, quality and production procedures.

The ideal candidate will be:

• Experienced in carton converting or folding-carton manufacture.
• Confident operating and setting folder-gluer machinery.
• Experienced working with printed carton board.
• Mechanically minded and comfortable making machine adjustments.
• Quality focused with excellent attention to detail.
• Able to work to production deadlines and targets.
• Able to identify and resolve routine machine and production issues.
• Reliable, organised and able to work independently.
• A good team player who takes pride in producing high-quality packaging.
• Safety conscious and willing to maintain a clean and organised working environment.

This role would suit an experienced Folder Gluer Operator, Carton Machine Operator, Folding & Gluing Operator, Carton Converter or Print Finishing Operator looking for a long term position within an established packaging and print business. We are looking for someone with genuine practical knowledge of carton production. Applicants without previous experience working with carton board and folding/gluing machinery are unlikely to be suitable for this position.

If you want to be part of a company that actually values its people, we want to hear from you.
Sound like your kind of place? Send your CV or a quick intro to tom@gt4.co.uk or call in confidence 01698 826000