Job Title: Ink Technician
Department: Pressroom / Production
Reports To: Production Shift Supervisor
Open positions: 2
Schedule:
- Day Shift: M-F, 5:00 am – 1:30 pm
- Night Shift: M-F, 5:00 pm – 1:30 am
Position Summary:
NCCO is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Ink Technician to join our narrow web flexographic printing team. This role is critical in maintaining the quality, consistency, and accuracy of water-based inks used in our printing processes. The Ink Technician will be responsible for ink preparation, inventory management, color matching, press-side support, and ensuring inks are formulated and maintained to meet quality and performance standards.
Key Responsibilities:
- Mix, measure, and adjust water-based ink formulations to meet color standards and job specifications.
- Maintain viscosity, pH, and temperature ranges appropriate for flexographic performance.
- Conduct drawdowns and perform color quality checks before releasing ink to press.
- Match colors to customer proofs or Pantone references using densitometers or spectrophotometers.
- Maintain documentation for all ink batches, including mix formulas and QC results.
- Work closely with press operators to ensure proper on-press performance and adjustments.
- Manage ink inventory: track usage, reorder levels, and batch numbers.
- Recycle and reuse ink when possible, to reduce waste and manage costs.
- Ensure accurate labeling and storage of all ink containers according to safety and company standards.
- Support press crews with ink-related issues during makeready and production.
- Coordinate with the art department, production planning, and vendors for color clarification and approvals.
- Assist with special projects including trials, customer samples, or new ink
- Follow all company and regulatory safety guidelines for handling and storing chemicals.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and compliant ink room.
Desired Qualifications/Experience:
- 2+ years in a flexographic or similar printing environment preferred.
- Strong knowledge of water-based inks and their application in narrow web flexo.
Skills & Competencies:
- Exceptional color vision and accuracy with the ability to visually match inks to Pantone guides, press pulls, and customer-provided samples.
- Proficiency in mixing, adjusting, and maintaining water-based inks within correct viscosity, pH, and performance ranges.
- Strong understanding of how ink interacts with different substrates used in narrow web flexo (paper, BOPP, film, thermal, etc.).
- Experience using tools like densitometers, spectrophotometers, viscosity cups, and pH meters to ensure ink quality and consistency.
- Ability to troubleshoot ink-related issues such as foaming, drying problems, adhesion failure, and color shift on press.
- Strong organizational skills for tracking inventory, maintaining batch logs, and preparing multiple jobs under tight deadlines.
- Clear and effective communication with press operators, supervisors, and prepress teams to coordinate color expectations and job readiness.
- Problem-solving mindset with a sense of urgency, especially when addressing ink issues during live production.
- Basic computer and digital literacy for entering ink data, using color matching software, and printing accurate labels and documentation.
Education/Physical Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Vocational or technical training in printing or ink technology a plus.
- Ability to lift 50 lbs regularly.
- Standing, bending, and walking for extended periods in a production environment.
Supervisor Responsibilities: None.
The above Job Description is not intended to be an a/I-encompassing list of responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this position. It is intended to be a guideline reflecting the principal activities.
NCCO Brand Fulfillment is an equal opportunity employer.