FURNACE OPERATOR

Title: Furnace Operator

Department: Production

Compensation: $22.00 to $25.00 per hour based on skill level as defined below.

Sign on bonus! $500 after 90 days with an additional $500 after 6 months of employment!

Summary of Position:

In this position, the employee controls a gas or electric furnace in preparation to melt metal in the foundry.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and operate furnaces containing molten aluminum at significantly high temperatures.
• Operate Furnace Controls to regulate the flow of air, gas or current to melt aluminum scrap to a specified temperature.
• Observe the color, fluidity and appearance of the molten metal to estimate temperature.
• Skim slag from molten bath.
• Operate furnace controls to pour molten metal into pots for removal.
• Work with maintenance staff to troubleshoot machine breakdowns in order to get back up to production in a timely matter.
• Demonstrate ability to troubleshoot creatively, solve problems effectively, and make inform decisions.
• Use fork lift and skid steer.
• Complete all necessary documentation for each heat.

This is a skilled position. All applicants should possess the ability, knowledge, and experience to meet the following criteria:

Minimum Requirements (Apprentice Level):

• At least 3 years foundry experience working with molten metal.
• General knowledge of cast house safety and handling of molten metal.
• Certified or previously certified fork lift operator.
• Certified or previously certified skid loader operator (“bobcat”).
• Experience with skimming or dross removal from furnaces, molds, runners, etc.
• Familiarization of basic metallurgy (Aluminum preferred) of identifying alloys, various alloying methods, use of alloying agents, and the significance of scrap/raw material segregation.
• At least 2 months experience operating one of the following furnaces: reverb, rotary, electric-induction, dry-hearth, crucible, cupola, electric-arc, and or stack-melter.

Preferred Requirements (Operator Level):

All of the Apprentice Level requirements plus:

• At least 1 year operating one of the following furnaces: reverb, rotary, electric-induction, dry-hearth, crucible, cupola, electric-arc, and or stack-melter.
• General knowledge/understanding of furnace baghouse operation and Group 1 furnace environmental parameters.
• Familiarization of using a spectrometer either from extensive observation or personal experience operating a spectrometer.
• Familiarization using Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook (email).

Optimum Requirements (Senior Level):

All of the Operator Level requirements plus:

• At least 1 year operating an electric-induction furnace.
• At least 1 year operating a reverb furnace.
• Certified or previously certified front-end loader operator.
• Experience operating a spectrometer.
• Experience taking molten metal samples.
• Good understanding of Group 1 furnace environmental parameters.
• Knowledgeable in metallurgy of aluminum and its alloys.
• Proficient in scrap blending or alloying, and capable of basic percentage calculations for various elements.