Filler/Blow Mold Operator Specialist

Summary

A Blow Mold Maintenance Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing blow molding machines, molds, and supporting systems to ensure efficient, high-quality bottle production. They perform preventive and corrective maintenance on mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems, while setting up and calibrating machines to approved parameters. The role includes conducting mold changeovers, cleaning and rebuilding tooling, monitoring equipment performance, and quickly resolving breakdowns or quality issues. Technicians must follow all safety, GMP, and food safety standards, maintain accurate maintenance records, and collaborate closely with production teams to minimize downtime.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regular mold changeovers, ensuring correct alignment, torquing, and sealing.
• Clean and polish mold cavities, neck rings, blow pins, and stretch rods to maintain bottle clarity and dimensional accuracy.
• Inspect mold cooling channels for blockages or scale buildup and flush as needed to maintain proper mold temperatures.
• Monitor and adjust blow air pressure, preform temperature profiles, and cycle times to optimize bottle wall thickness and strength.
• Perform preventive maintenance on mold temperature controllers, and chiller systems to ensure consistent mold cooling.
• Diagnose and repair issues related to PET stretching, bottle deformation, uneven wall thickness, or improper sealing.
• Inspect and replace wear parts such as guide bushings, linear bearings, cam followers, gripper arms, and valve blocks on blow stations.
• Maintain and troubleshoot preform handling and support systems including but not limited to feed rails, unscramblers, blow wheel, and transfer arms) for smooth operation.
• Verify bottle dimensions, weights, and visual appearance after adjustments to ensure compliance with customer specifications.
• Conduct leak tests, top-load tests, and burst pressure tests on finished bottles as part of quality validation after maintenance.
• Analyze scrap and defect trends (burn marks, haze, flash, ovality, short shots, etc.) and adjust machine parameters or mold components to correct issues.
• Work closely with operations and quality to implement process changes and validate bottle performance during production trials.
• Update mold and machine maintenance histories, including hours in operation, repairs made, and parts replaced, for lifecycle tracking.
• Assist with the installation, commissioning, and validation of new blow mold machines, molds, and automation equipment.
• Maintain effective communication with coworkers, management, and supervisors.
• Maintain safe and clean working environment by performing housekeeping complying with GMPs SQF HAACP, LOTO and general workplace safety standards
• Must maintain accurate documentation that is legible, and organized
• Must follow good manufacturing practices
• Must ensure food safety and quality are maintained by following regulations and company guidelines
• Participate in ongoing training related to job duties, safety, equipment operation, and product handling.
• Perform other duties as directed by management
• These responsibilities are considered essential functions of the role and must be able to be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Required Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age or older
• 2–5 years of experience in plastics, blow molding, or similar manufacturing environment
• Strong mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic knowledge; ability to read and interpret schematics and blueprints.

Preferred Qualifications

· Tech-long/SACMI/Sidel Blow Molding Equipment Preferred).

Education / Certificates

· High School Diploma or Equivalent

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb, and lift up to 60 lbs for extended periods.
• Prolonged Standing of 6 or more hours
• Repetitive Tasks and motions
• Operation of pallet jacks

Matrix Bottling Group, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding non-discrimination and workplace accommodation. In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, The American with Disabilities Act (ADAA) we do not discriminate against any employ or candidate based on race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin (including language restrictions), age, disability (physical, intellectual/developmental, or mental health), pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, political affiliation, ancestry, domestic violence victim status or any other protected characteristic.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Plastics blow molding: 2 years (Required)
• Injection stretch blow molding: 2 years (Preferred)
• beverage manufacturing: 2 years (Preferred)

Shift availability:

• Overnight Shift (Required)
• Night Shift (Required)
• Day Shift (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Morganton, NC 28655 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $25