Paper and Pulp Mill Operators

Paper and Pulp Mill Operators operate plants to produce paper pulp from woodchips and to make paper sheets.

What the job involves

• Loads the digester with raw materials and chemicals

• Regulates and adjusts the temperature and pressure within the digester

• Tests samples by titration or standard colour test to determine completion of process

• Drains liquid from digester and monitors the removal of the cooked pulp

• Takes samples of bleached material for laboratory testing

• Washes bleached material and blends to obtain uniform quality

• May be required to add chemicals during the bleaching process and complete chemical or electrolytic tests

• Undertakes the addition of size, fillers, dyes, alum and chemicals, and tests for correct consistency

• Ensures transfer of completed batch to storage tanks where it is kept under agitation to maintain consistency

• May mix and cook colouring matter for dyeing product in the machine

• Controls flow of wet pulp through rotary screens to paper making machines

• Operates drier and calendar rollers

• Operates super-calendar to impart gloss and finish to surface of paper

• Operates machine to glaze or impregnate paper with coating mixture

• Separates sheets from felts and lays sheets in packs, re-presses packs

• Separates sheets from pack and dries