Paper Technologist Careers

Work Environment:

As a paper technologist, you'd work within paper factory, designing and testing processes and equipment utilized into production of corrugated board, paper and tissue. Your job would include dealing with raw-materials like plant based fibers, recycled paper and wood pulp, developing them in products like cartons and high quality art paper.

Your tasks as a paper technologist would comprise:

• making sure that products fulfill safety standards
• writing up reports for clients and managers

• finding out best mode to mix additives, raw materials and chemicals for a specific product
• organizing trials of newer products
• scrutinizing and interpreting trial production and lab test-results
• measuring up how various aspects influence manufacturing procedure, like liquid pressures and temperatures
• administering quality-control to ensure that products fulfill requirements of client, like right finish and color

Qualification, Education and Experience:

You'd need a degree into associated subjects like engineering, chemistry or science, or a BTEC: HND/HNC into Chemical Engineer, to become a paper technologist.

If you've a related vocational qualification, and you're working within paper manufacturing, e.g. at technician-level, then you might be capable to merge part time study with vocational training to take a high qualification such as a degree or HND.

You might have a benefit, if you've experience in laboratory/manufacturing work.

For further information about this profession, check the website of Confederation of Paper Industries.

Training Details:

When you begin working as a paper technologist, you'd be provided with training by your employer. This training will comprise work-experience into various divisions of factory.

By correct qualifications and experience, you might be capable to take postgraduate course in packaging-technology or paper science.

Skills and knowledge:

• excellent IT skills
• excellent problem resolving abilities
• capability to work together with employees at every level
• a readiness to stay updated with latest developments
• an interest into technology and science
• capability to scrutinize and interpret test-results
• excellent presentation and communication abilities

Salary and Other Benefits:

• Initial remunerations for paper technologist can be around £18,000 to £21,000 a year.
• By experience earnings can boost to over £25,000.

Working Conditions:

You'd work weekly for around 41 hours as per shift schedule, which might comprise weekends and nights. With a senior position, you'd work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on weekdays, though you might still be working as per on-call scheme to resolve out of hours issues.

Your time would be divided between the production areas, office and lab. Circumstances in few areas of factory might be noisy, hot and humid. You'd be anticipated to put on protective outfits on factory-floor and within lab.

Different Opportunities:

You can discover work chances with paper factories and firms which provide machinery and chemicals to factories. You can also seek research positions within universities through connections to industry, and by overseas firms. Employment openings are publicized by national and regional press, and Directgov website.

By experience and skills, you can proceed to business administration and production management. If you're ready to undertake responsibility for specialist research or project management, you may develop your career perspective.

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