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Foundry Process Operator

Do you want to become a Foundry Process Operator? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Foundry process operators are responsible for a variety of jobs in foundries, where metal castings are made for a wide range of industries, from information technology to aerospace. The jobs a process operator may undertake include:

• sand mill operator, running the sand-mixing machinery
• melter, furnaceman or cupola attendant, operating the furnaces
• ladleman/caster, transporting the molten metal and pouring it into moulds
• moulding machine operator, working the sand-moulding machines
• die caster, maintaining and operating die-casting machines
• fettler/grinder, grinding surplus metal off castings
• shot blaster, operating a shot-blasting machine to clean castings.

Foundry process operators usually work 37 hours a week, often on a shift system, which may include evenings and weekends. Most jobs are carried out in the foundry area, but there may be some outside work, such as sorting the metal. Most foundries have fume and dust extractors. Operators wear safety clothing, including overalls, safety shoes, hard hats, eye shields, earplugs and gloves.

Salaries for foundry process operatives range from around £14,000 to £20,000 a year.

Foundry process operators need to:

• be good with their hands
• have good hand-to-eye co-ordination
• have a responsible attitude and awareness of health and safety issues
• be physically fit
• have an interest in engineering
• be interested in the use of materials.

There are foundries in most industrial areas of the UK, particularly in the West Midlands, northern England and central Scotland.

There are no formal entry requirements. New entrants start as unskilled foundry operatives and work through company training schemes to become operators. It may be possible to train through an Apprenticeship. There is no age limit for this type of work.

New workers receive basic training including health and safety, followed by on-the-job training. Apprentices work towards NVQs/SVQs at Levels 1 to 3 in related subjects, such as Performing Manufacturing Operations and Performing Engineering Operations.

A foundry process operator may progress to become a patternmaker or moulder/coremaker. With further training, there are opportunities to move into supervision and management.

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