National Certificate in Printing Reel-Fed (Level 4)

Mick Scown has gained self-confidence through completing the course. Picture / Fotopress

The course

The National Certificate in Printing Reel-Fed covers the apprenticeship training for reel-fed printers who set up and operate high speed machines that print on reels of paper and plastic. Printing apprentices learn everything from how to run the printing machines to colour theory, printing methods and health and safety.

An apprenticeship usually takes 42 months (3 1/2 years) and involves correspondence, industry workshops and on-the-job training.

The theory-based industry workshops run once a year for three or four days. There are also three workplace assessments to assess the apprentice's understanding of the material covered by their correspondence study, practical skills and portfolio of work.

Although there is no hard and fast rule, the industry prefers apprentices who completed Year 12 (6th Form). Good apprentices have mechanical aptitude, good eyesight and colour vision and a practical interest in art.

Though the most common printing is reel-fed, there are also apprenticeships in sheet-fed (brochures and magazines), screenprinting (T-shirts and big billboards), print finishing (putting publications together), prepress (preparing designs) and digital printing (photocopy printing).

PAITC don't do job placements but keep a list of companies wanting apprentices and will put people wanting an apprenticeship in touch with them. There is an apprentice shortage.

The National Certificate in Printing costs $2200 over 3 1/2 years; around $640 per year. This is usually paid for by the company, as are the compulsory safety boots, overalls and hearing protection.

What graduates think

Mick Scown
Reel-fed Flexographic Printer
Jenkins Group Limited
Completed apprenticeship late 2004

Salary varies, but newly qualified reel-fed printers usually earn between $23 and $25 an hour, rising to $35 to $45 an hour depending on shifts and experience.

I work as a flexographic reel-fed printer for Jenkins Group, a high-speed label and packaging printer. I was involved in the printing industry for many years before deciding to do a printing apprenticeship.

I like flexographic reel-fed printing because the technology is advancing rapidly and is much faster than sheet-fed printing.

The certificate was a lot of hard work but helped me gain self-confidence and the workshops were particularly informative. We learned a lot about the theories behind substrates, inks, prepress and types of printing and presses.

We also learned how paper is made and plastic extruded so we become informed about the materials and equipment that we're learning to use. Sometimes I found the notes a bit basic and sourced further information about flexographic printing on the internet.

However, the course gave me the confidence to do that research and got me into the mode of studying. I'm now doing the Diploma in Print Management and hope to eventually move into management. The liaison officers were helpful with any issues we had.

 

What employers think

Tony Sayle
Managing Director,
Jenkins Group Limited

A good printer needs to be open to exacting processes and have a fine eye for the small technical details. It never ceases to amaze me how much detail goes into dye-cutting and colour-matching, for example.

There is a significant difference between a competent operator and a guy watching the printed product run through the press. The certificate develops a more comprehensive understanding so we definitely see a difference between those with the certificate and those without. It also gives employers the confidence that the guys have the knowledge and ability to operate presses.

There is a skill shortage in the printing industry yet it is a relatively well-paid occupation in an air-conditioned plant with high-tech equipment.

The work environment is not as structured as a classroom so the certificate offers a more formal process that gives printers time to focus on pulling together wider industry knowledge and this enhances their employability in the industry.

Our operations manager and our shop floor production manager came up from apprenticeships.

The qualification

National Certificate in Printing Reel-Fed (Level 4)
Printing & Allied Industries Training Council (PAITC)
Ph 04 569 2804 or 0800 4 PAITC (0800 472 482)
www.paitc.co.nz
info@paitc.co.nz