Production Labeling Specialist in Kalamazoo, Michigan at POLYTEK DEVELOPMENT CORP

Polytek® Development Corp. is a leading manufacturer of mold making and casting materials. Polytek® is currently looking for a highly motivated, experienced, and extremely organized individual to join our rapidly expanding company.

This position supports Polytek® Development Corp.’s printing of product labels across Industrial and Consumer production operations. This role is responsible for printing and providing applicable product labels, product inserts, and other applicable product packaging documents to production for Industrial, Consumer, and Private Label brands of Polytek®. Working cross-functionally with EHS, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing, Packaging, Operations, and Purchasing, the Production Labeling Coordinator will play a key role in simultaneously managing the setup, calibration, and continuous running of two Trojan Label digital print press systems while maintaining a strict focus on product excellence. This role plays a key part in ensuring labels and inserts are printed in a timely and accurate manner, with rigorous quality control checks throughout every printing run to guarantee high-resolution, defect-free labels for a streamlined production operation.

Duties:

Label Printing & Management

• Operate two labeling print press and/or printer to meet Production labeling and packaging demands for Polytek-branded and Private Label materials.
• Follow Production batch sheets and schedules to understand, generate, and print product- and size-specific labeling, product inserts, applicable product packaging documents, and kit identifying labels.
• Use internet-based labeling software to design sheets and small roll labels.
• Generate vendor-specific labels to meet expectations and requirements.
• Generate production-specific labels when requested by production lines.
• Print made-to-order labels on demand, when needed.
• Assist with printing of labels for other Polytek locations, when needed.
• Perform mandatory inspection checks at scheduled intervals throughout each label production run to verify text alignment, color consistency, and overall label appearance (clean material without smudges, lines, or tears).
• Examine finished labels for registration errors, ink delivery issues, streaks, or blemishes to ensure 100% accurate, high-resolution output.
• Perform visual requirements necessary for reviewing labeling content, including close vision and sharp color differentiation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Monitor and maintain outsourced printed materials and communicate ordering needs with Purchasing.
• Organize and maintain blank label stock and communicate ordering needs with Purchasing.
• Proactively communicate design, formatting, regulatory, and printing concerns with EHS, Marketing, and Operations.

Process & Administrative Support

• Organize and maintain label storage areas.
• Organize and maintain blank label stock, outsourced printed materials, label/product insert storage areas, and printer consumables (inks, printheads, etc.), and communicate ordering needs with Purchasing.
• Perform routine daily, weekly, preventative, and light maintenance on both Trojan print presses to optimize runtime, reduce mechanical wear, and ensure peak performance.
• Clean and maintain printheads, replace individual CMYK inks, and minimize material waste across both active production lines.
• Run basic error diagnostics via touch screen platforms and handle mechanical adjustments on both printers.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to remain seated and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate effectively through verbal and written means.
• Ability to lift and/or move items up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to bend, squat, stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, and repeatedly ascend/descend short flights of stairs/ladders for full shift.
• Ability to perform detailed visual review of labeling content, including close vision and color differentiation, to ensure label accuracy, identify errors, and maintain quality and regulatory compliance.
• Must wear job-specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for entirety of shift.

Required Education and Experience:

• Education: High school diploma required, Associates or Technical degree in a related field preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 1-3 years of experience operating industrial printing equipment in a manufacturing or warehouse environment.
• Skills: Proficiency with label design software (like BarTender or ZebraDesigner) or other label creation software and familiarity with TrojanControl/TrojanRIP or similar digital front-end press interfaces.

Skills & Competencies:

• Must be able to understand, speak, write, and read English.
• Strong administrative and technical skills with exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat Suite.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and manage priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and maintain positive working relationships.
• Strong document control and data-management skills.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.