Pre-Treat Operator - 1st shift

IFA Rotorion • Summerville, SC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pre-Treat Operator prepares fabrication parts and surfaces for industrial coating and painting. The role manages the chemistry and mechanical functionality of pre-treatment wash tanks or systems to support paint adhesion, prevent corrosion, and produce a quality finish. The operator monitors chemical parameters and inspects parts before they proceed to paint application.

The position maintains and adjusts degreasing, rinsing, and phosphating tanks; conducts bath-control tests; operates automated pre-treatment equipment; inspects parts; and performs cleaning, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance. It also requires safe handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals and pre-treatment waste in accordance with OSHA requirements, applicable environmental regulations, and SDS guidelines.

The role involves working throughout a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and at a workstation, handling paints, solvents, and cleaners, and meeting the physical demands listed in the posting. Any shift may be required, including overtime as needed.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Strong mechanical aptitude; candidates with this aptitude may be trained.
• Understanding of multi-stage industrial wash systems, such as iron or zinc phosphate, reverse osmosis water, and acid washes.
• Ability to use titration kits, pH meters, and quality inspection tools such as Elcometers and infrared cameras for temperature checks.
• Exceptional attention to detail when identifying surface abnormalities, oil residues, or uneven chemical coating.
• Competency in completing chemical logs, total preventative maintenance paperwork, and scrap tickets.
• Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including frequent lifting of up to 40 pounds and infrequent lifting of more than 40 pounds.
• Ability to work with paints, solvents, and cleaners.
• Vision to analyze and process work and operate computer terminals or machine centers; hearing sufficient for safety and workplace communication.

Nice To Haves

• 1–2 years of experience in an industrial painting, powder coating, or chemical pre-treatment environment; candidates with strong mechanical aptitude may be trained.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, monitor, and adjust pre-treatment degreaser, chemical rinsing, and phosphating tanks before the coating process.
• Conduct bath-control tests, including pH testing and titration analysis, and log chemical levels to keep wash stages within specification.
• Ensure raw metal, plastic, or composite parts are free of grease, dirt, oil, scale, and rust before they reach the spray booth.
• Set up and operate automated conveyor lines, spray nozzles, pre-heat induction coils, and drying ovens.
• Visually inspect raw parts entering pre-treatment and parts exiting the dry-off oven; identify surface defects and document quality metrics.
• Clean, troubleshoot, and perform preventive maintenance on wash stages, filtration systems, spray nozzles, and booth components.
• Safely handle, mix, and dispose of hazardous chemicals and pre-treatment waste according to OSHA, local environmental regulations, and SDS guidelines.
• Complete chemical logs, total preventative maintenance paperwork, and scrap tickets.
• Work any shift as required, including overtime as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED