Textile, Fibre and Yarn, Hide and Pelt Processing Machine Operators and Workers

Nature of work

Textile fibre and yarn processing machine operators and workers use machines to prepare textile fibres; spin, wind or twist yarn or thread; and bleach, dye or finish yarn, thread, cloth or textile products. They work for textile manufacturing companies. Hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers trim, scrape, clean, tan, buff and dye animal hides, pelts or skins to make leather stock and finished furs. They work for leather tanning, fur dressing and leather and fur dyeing companies.

Job duties

Textile fibre and yarn processing machine operators and workers:

• Use and feed machines that wash, mix, blend, pick, card, lap, comb or draw fibres and finish yarn.
• Run spinning, twisting, winding or reeling machines.
• Use machines to bleach, dye, coat or finish fabric, thread, yarn or other textile products.
• Mix dyes or chemicals according to established formulas.
• Use machinery to print designs onto textile products.
• Manage work area, examine products for defects and ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Investigate machine stoppages and notify supervisor or mechanic of equipment failure.
• May set up machines and help with maintenance and minor repairs to machinery.

Hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers:

• Use machines or use hand and powered cutting knives to remove particles from hides, skins or pelts; shave or polish hides; and shear fur or wool hides to produce pelts with hair of specified or uniform lengths.
• Prepare solutions according to established formulas and immerse hides, skins or pelts to clean, dehair, pickle, dye, oil, tan, soften and preserve.
• Adjust rotation and mixing action of vats according to state of pelts.
• Tint or dye furs to enhance natural shades of fur.
• May maintain and repair vats and other machinery.

Sample job titles

• autoclave tender
• bleaching range operator
• calender operator
• carding machine operator
• coater operator
• dyeing range operator
• fabric-printing machine operator
• finishing range operator
• leather buffer
• leather stretcher
• spinning operator
• tanner
• twisting operator
• yarn doubler

Skills

You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and mechanical skills are important. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

• High school is usually required.
• On-the-job training is provided for up to several months, depending on the complexity of the process and the number of machines used.

Other considerations

Shift work may be typical for many of these jobs. Movement is possible within the group to operate more complex dye ranges and textile printing equipment. Movement to supervisory positions is possible with experience for fibre and yarn preparation machine operators and hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers. There is some Movement among jobs in this unit group. A college program in textiles, chemistry or a related subject is usually needed to move to supervisor positions in textile processing.

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