Painter/Coater in South Chesterfield, Virginia at BluePrint Automation

Company Overview:

At Blueprint Automation, we design, develop and manufacture case packers and tray packing solutions for flexible and other tough-to-handle packages such as doypacks, pillow bags, and four-sided sealed bags. Built for around-the-clock operation, these solutions have a worldwide reputation for their quick change-over, flexibility, speed, and comprehensive design. Our Integrated state-of-the-art technologies include gravity, pick and place, wrap-around, and vision-guided robotics.

We are absolutely passionate about innovation. It adds the fun and inspiration to our work that people need to excel. Our customers stimulate innovation by developing new needs, and we are on a never-ending quest to find a better, simpler way. BPA has no innovation budget. Innovation is what we are.

Position:

The Painter is responsible for preparing, coating, curing and inspecting fabricated metal components. This position is onsite, and responsible for surface preparation, masking, racking, powder application, booth and oven operation, cure verification, finish inspection, production documentation, equipment care and maintaining a clean and safe work area.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must satisfactorily perform each essential duty. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

• Review job travelers, drawings, work instructions, and customer requirements to confirm coating type, color, thickness, masking, and cure requirements.
• Inspect parts before coating and verify surfaces are clean, dry, and suitable for application.
• Prepare components through cleaning, degreasing, washing, abrasive preparation, masking, plugging, and other required pretreatment methods.
• Rack and ground parts to support complete coverage, efficient production flow, and safe handling.
• Set up and operate electrostatic powder coating guns, booths, hoppers, reclaim systems, and curing ovens.
• Adjust voltage, air pressure, powder flow, gun distance, line speed, and related settings to achieve consistent coverage and finish quality.
• Monitor oven temperature and cure time and document production and process data as required.
• Inspect completed parts for film thickness, coverage, color, texture, adhesion, and visible defects.
• Identify and correct defects such as thin coverage, runs, orange peel, contamination, fisheyes, pinholes, and incomplete cure.
• Perform touch-up or rework when permitted by the applicable process and specification.
• Complete color changes and thoroughly clean guns, booths, hoses, hoppers, racks, and surrounding work areas to prevent cross-contamination.
• Perform routine operator maintenance and promptly report equipment, ventilation, grounding, or oven concerns.
• Track powder, masking supplies, filters, hooks, plugs, and other consumables and notify management before materials are depleted.
• Maintain clear and accurate production, inspection, rework, and equipment records.
• Operate large-frame and small-parts sandblasting equipment to clean and prepare metal surfaces for finishing.
• Apply liquid paint and powder coat finishes to aluminum, ferrous metals, and other materials according to customer and engineering specifications.
• Operate and monitor a commercial-grade curing oven to ensure proper powder coating adhesion, finish quality, and curing requirements.
• Follow all company safety rules and policies, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when operating paint, powder coating, blasting, and oven equipment.
• Serves as mentor/ coach to less experienced painters.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience & Qualifications:

• A Minimum of 1 year of experience in industrial powder coating and metal finishing within manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of different types of metal preparation, part grounding, powder application, cure scheduled, and common coating defects.
• Ability to read and follow job travelers, written work instructions, drawing and customer specifications.
• Ability to use coating thickness gauges and temperature reading/monitoring equipment.
• Ability to perform basic equipment setup, cleaning, routine maintenance and trouble shooting.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while meeting schedule requirements.
• Ability to list components up to 50lbs
• Ability to wear required PPE, including respiratory protection when assigned.

At this time, BPA will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

BPA prides itself on the quality of its employees and as such, candidates who receive an employment offer will be required to pass a drug screen and background check successfully.

BPA offers an opportunity to grow and develop your career in an environment that provides a fulfilling workplace for employees, creates an environment for continuous learning, and embraces the ideas and diversity of others. In addition, we offer a robust benefits package including a majority employer-paid employee health, dental, vision, life, and disability; 20 days of PTO during the first year of employment, as well as 401(k) with a 6% match.

BPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans.