Flexographic Press Operator

About us

The Label Factory is a pressure-sensitive label converter in Des Moines. We run a hybrid digital and flexographic operation — three Webtron flexo presses and Mark Andy presses on the flexo side, three HP Indigo digital presses on the digital side, plus Delta ModTech die cutting. We own our building, we've deliberately built redundancy into our equipment so a machine going down doesn't stop the floor, and we stock the parts that fail most often.

We print for customers with real quality requirements — medical device and blood tube labels among them — which means we run a documented quality system with written work instructions, start-up checklists, and full material traceability on every roll. If you like knowing exactly what "right" looks like before you start a job, you'll like it here.

What you'll do

Reporting to the Flexographic Floor Manager, you'll be responsible for running a press start to finish:

• Review the job ticket and set up the press for the job, following the applicable start-up checklist
• Load and web up material, set tension, and manage roll changes and splices
• Mount and set dies; set up print stations, including ink, anilox, plate mounting, and registration
• Bring the job up to color and match the approved standard
• Run production while monitoring registration, color, die strike, and web quality
• Pull and inspect samples at required intervals, document them, and correct drift before it becomes scrap
• Complete the Roll Tracer and all required traceability and start-up documentation accurately
• Verify the finished job against the ticket and hand off cleanly to die cutting or rewinding
• Perform operator-level cleaning, changeovers, and preventive maintenance on your press
• Keep your area clean and follow all safety procedures, including lockout/tagout

What we're looking for

Required:

• Genuine attention to detail. Our work gets inspected by our customers' quality departments, and paperwork errors are as costly as print errors
• Ability to read and follow a job ticket and written work instructions, and to document what you did
• Ability to stand for a full shift and lift material rolls up to 50 lbs
• Reliable attendance and willingness to work overtime when the schedule requires it

Nice to have:

• Experience on Webtron or Mark Andy equipment
• UV flexo experience
• Experience in a regulated or medical device supply chain (ISO-style quality systems, controlled documents, traceability)
• Die cutting, rewinding, or digital press experience

Pay and benefits

• Weekly pay by direct deposit (first check runs one week behind)
• Medical and dental starting day one of employment after the contract-to-hire period — employee medical contribution is $35/week; dental is $5/week
• 401(k) with company match up to 3.5%
• PTO starting at 80 hours per year, increasing one day per year of service up to 120 hours. PTO and sick time are combined, so you use it however you need it
• Eight paid holidays: New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas
• Two paid 15-minute breaks per shift plus an optional unpaid lunch
• Modern, well-maintained equipment and a floor with enough redundancy that you're not fighting the same breakdown every week

What to expect

New hires start with a 90-day introductory period and work through a structured certification process on the press — we'll document what you've been trained on and sign off when you're running independently. Overtime is mandatory when the schedule calls for it, and we'd rather tell you that up front than surprise you in week two.

The Label Factory is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

With almost 30 years service, The Label Factory helps businesses all over the world grow by supporting all their label and sticker needs. High quality labels for any products. You name it. We label it. Our digital press makes short and medium print runs easy, and our fast turnaround is ideal for time-sensitive industries, limited-duration promotions, test marketing, and samples. Join our team today!