Garlock is looking for a KLZ Press Operator/Finisher to join our manufacturing team. This role is a great fit for someone who likes hands-on work, takes pride in quality, and wants to operate specialized press equipment used to produce molded rubber products. If you are dependable, safety-minded, mechanically comfortable, and enjoy seeing a product move from raw material to finished part, this role offers steady work and the chance to build valuable manufacturing skills.

What you’ll do:

• Operate electric and hydraulic presses used in molding operations for rubber, fabric, metal, spring, and combination materials.
• Load molds, position blanks, apply mold release, cure stock, remove finished molded pieces, and prepare parts for the next step.
• Perform finishing operations manually or by machine to prepare molded items for shipment.
• Inspect molded parts visually and with gauges or measuring tools to confirm quality requirements are met.
• Monitor press conditions including pressure, temperature, vacuum, cure times, bumps, pre-heat cycles, and lubrication systems.
• Identify defects, troubleshoot process issues, and work with supervision, engineering, and technical support to correct concerns.
• Record production information, chart measurements, sign off router steps, and provide data for production metrics.
• Maintain equipment, clean and lubricate machines, empty dust collectors and containers, and support lockout/tagout and 5S practices.

Why this role stands out:

• Hands-on press operation role where quality, safety, and consistency matter.
• Opportunity to build specialized skills in rubber molding, finishing, inspection, and process troubleshooting.
• Variety in the work, including machine operation, product checks, mold handling, finishing, and data recording.
• Team-based environment with regular interaction with supervisors, engineering, and technical support.
• Strong fit for someone who values practical work, problem-solving, and seeing finished products come together.

What we’re looking for:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow work instructions accurately.
• Comfort monitoring equipment, checking product quality, and recording production information.
• Ability to communicate concerns, suggest improvements, and work well with supervisors, engineering, and team members.
• Commitment to plant safety guidelines, clean work practices, and quality standards.

Physical and work environment requirements:

• Standing, leaning, reaching, loading and unloading molds, lifting and lowering mold covers, and pushing or pulling molds.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds; anything over 35 pounds requires two people or appropriate lifting equipment.
• Repetitive arm and shoulder movement for a significant portion of the shift.
• Comfort working in a manufacturing environment with heat, fumes, noise, and potential exposure to minor burns, knife cuts, or finger pinching.

Ready to press your manufacturing skills into something that matters? Bring your reliability, attention to detail, and pride in quality work to Garlock’s KLZ team. Apply today for the KLZ Press Operator/Finisher role.

Schedule: Sunday-Thursday, 10pm-6am

Starting Pay: $23.98/hour, Pay Range: $23.98-25.39/hour, Shift Differential (3rd): $1.75/hour

Your Role in Our Values: At Garlock, our values of Safety, Excellence, and Respect guide how we work, collaborate, and grow. In this role, you will have opportunities to live these values every day by creating safe environments, driving meaningful results, and building respectful relationships.

• Safety: Champion a culture of safety by embracing the Garlock Safety Pledge in everything you do. Look for ways to improve safety in your work, your team, and the broader organization, because safety starts with each of us.
• Excellence: Bring your full self to work. Focus on creating value, driving innovation, and continuously improving how we work.
• Respect: Create space for every voice to be heard. Foster a workplace built on mutual respect, where people feel valued and empowered to contribute to both personal and organizational success.

Garlock is a subsidiary of Enpro, a leading industrial technology company focused on critical applications across many end-markets, including semiconductor, industrial process, commercial vehicle, sustainable power generation, aerospace, food and pharma, photonics and life sciences. 

At Enpro, we believe that diversity drives innovation and inclusion fosters growth. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Our employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military service, or any other status protected by applicable law.  If you require accommodation due to a disability at any time during the recruitment and/or assessment process, please contact Human Resources, and we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.  

Enpro Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. We will not sponsor employment visas now or in the future for this job. 

Enpro carefully considers a wide range of compensation factors including the background, education, training, and experience required, as well as geographic considerations such as cost of labor, and applicable local and state laws. These considerations can cause offered compensation to vary. Enpro offers a range of benefits including, but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k) matching, and other supplemental insurance options.​ 

#Garlock

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Operates a series of electric/hydraulic presses in various molding operations consisting of long or short production runs of products made of various rubber compounds or a combination of rubber, spring, fabric and/or metal blanks.
• Completes opening of press/mold by various manual means and closes partially by manual means and pushing control buttons.
• Performs duties that include:
• Raises and lowers presses.
• Applies mold release to cavities as per work instructions.
• Inserts blanks in mold cavities by hand.
• Inserts Mold in/out press
• Cures stock for prescribed length of time.
• Removes finished molded pieces from mold cavities, rough pick and deposits in provided containers as per work instruction.
• Uses care in loading molds to insure that metal or rubber blanks are properly positioned.  Quality inspection responsibilities will become paramount throughout molding cycle.
• Determines and implements corrective actions when defects occur with product and notifies Supervision and/or Engineering when unable to correct defect.
• Audits pre-molded blanks for defects and proper weights during initial start-up.
• Informs Supervisor and/or Engineering of defective conditions concerning pre-molded blanks. Assists and suggests ways to correct defects.
• Inspects finished molded pieces, this inspection will involve visual or the use of some form of gauge(s) as required.
• Provides input and data as required for metrics.
• Verifies mold release correctness.
• Verifies receipt, pressures, cure times and temperatures on product masters when presses are in operation.  Employee will however, be alert to pressure changes, proper functioning of mechanical lubricating systems, temperature readings, bumps and pre-heat cycle so as to provide input and correct product masters if improprieties exist.
• Works with Supervision and Tech Aides to assure product master correctness, including trial runs, data gathering and verbal communication as to progress status.
• Performs various finishing operations (manual or machine) on molded rubber items and other miscellaneous items in order to prepare them for shipment.
• Works closely with Engineering personnel in the development and establishment of standard operating data relative to new and/or experimental products.
• Moves all finished work to proper center and records production and signs off each completed router step.
• Maintains equipment, cleans and lubricates machines, empties dust collectors and refuse containers.
• Miscellaneous functions such as rough picking and stacking of parts will be an essential  duty of the operator. May assist in finishing operation as directed.
• Monitors pressure changes, vacuum changes, proper functioning of mechanical lubricating system, temperature readings, bumps, and pre-heat cycle so as to provide input and to help correct product masters if improprieties exist.
• Performs lock out tag out process and cleans presses.
• Weights extrusion blanks, measures critical dimensions like O.D. to ensure proper quality.  Records and charts measurements.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintains stock tote pans or containers in neat and orderly fashion.
• Collects data and provides input to supervision and/or Engineering regarding proper data codes, stock availability and mold conditions
• Trouble shoots process as corrective action when defects occur with product/ assists and suggests ways to correct defects.
• Adheres to all plant safety guidelines.
• Keeps work area in 5S condition.
• Performs other jobs as assigned by Supervisor.

The above statements are intended to describe general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this job.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel classified under this job title.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school degree completed or equivalent (GED) required
• Previous manufacturing experience preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

POSTURE: Standing, leaning, reaching

MAXIMUM WEIGHT TO BE LIFTED: up to 35 lbs, anything over 35 lbs must be lifted by two people or appropriate lifting equipment.

FREQUENCY PER SHIFT: 25%

REPETITIVE MOTION TASKS:  Arm/shoulder movement when loading & unloading molds, lifting & lowering mold covers, pushing and pulling molds.          

DURATION OF SHIFT: 80%              

OTHER:  Potential burns, knife cuts, finger pinching                   

WORKING CONDITIONS: Heat, fumes, noise