Machine Operator - Nights

Profile Products LLC•St. Catharines, ON

5d•CA$18 - CA$25•Onsite

About The Position

Machine Operator running slurry-forming and bonding equipment at Quick Plug Canada's St. Catharines plant, producing bonded growing media plugs for horticulture. Responsible for line startup, continuous quality monitoring, and hands-on equipment upkeep, including clearing accumulated mud/dirt slurry from machine components.

Requirements

5+ years in a manufacturing environment, ideally with continuous-process or batch-mixing equipment
Hands-on comfort with manual, physically demanding labor: standing, bending, kneeling, lifting up to 50 lbs, shoveling/clearing material buildup
Basic computer literacy sufficient for PLC interfaces and digital production logs
High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience
Fluent spoken/written English sufficient for safety instructions and shift handoffs

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with PLCs and automated/robotic production equipment
Mechanical aptitude and machine setup/changeover experience
Exposure to slurry, binder, resin, or chemical-mix processes (isocyanate, polyurethane, or similar) — understands why containment and PPE compliance matter, not just that it's required
Valid forklift license
Prior experience training or leading other operators on a specialty machine

Responsibilities

Start up and stage the production line to hit scheduled run time, including pre-run checks on PLCs and automated forming equipment
Feed and monitor the dirt/peat slurry and binder mixing process, watching for inconsistent bonding, incomplete cure, or off-spec plug density
Continuously inspect finished plugs for defects (weak bonding, mud clumping, size/shape deviation) and report to Leads
Clean and clear designated machine components per the posted cleaning schedule, including shoveling out mud and dirt slurry residue that builds up in feed hoppers, mixing chambers, and conveyor sections
Track packaging material usage and flag shortages to Supervisor before they stall the line
Report maintenance issues (mechanical wear, PLC faults, sensor errors) to Operating Leads immediately, not at end of shift
Follow GMP and Food Safety protocols on any shared lines, plus isocyanate-specific PPE and handling procedures (respirator, hazmat suit, gloves, safety glasses)
Maintain a defect/scrap rate at or below plant target through consistent slurry-mix and bonding-quality checks
Complete cross-training on at least one additional specialty machine and be able to run it without supervision
Contribute to reducing unplanned downtime tied to slurry buildup/clogging by following (and suggesting improvements to) the cleaning schedule
Support onboarding of new operators on assigned machines, including hands-on training on proper cleaning/mud-clearing technique to prevent equipment jams