Dalton, Georgia, United States
As the pulverizer technician we operate the pulverizer and weima grinder and mostly do our own maintenance when we have issues and change out the pallman and kerf blades when needed. My main roles: • Operate and maintain pulverizer systems critical to material preparation and consistency in production. • Perform routine inspections, calibrations, and minor mechanical repairs to ensure equipment efficiency. • Monitor material flow and particle size using computerized systems to ensure quality specifications. • Learn and apply safety protocols such as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), PPE use, and dust mitigation in high-risk environments. • Collaborate with quality and maintenance teams to prevent downtime and ensure smooth operations. • Adapt to physical and fast-paced work environments while maintaining a clean and safe workspace. I am a motivated and skilled technician with over 6 years of experience in industrial manufacturing and machinery operations. Seeking to leverage my extensive background in extrusion, calendar roll systems, finishing lines, and pulverizer maintenance to contribute to the success of different roles.
When I started back at Mohawk, IVC, I quickly learned how to run a finishing line by myself and how to do order changes, quality checks, changeovers, work on the machines, and do packaging. I never missed a single day of work but Mohawk, IVC just let me and 87 other people at the plant go due to having to down size due to Mohawk tearing down the LVT line to build another SPC line and with us being new. My main roles as a finishing operator: • Operated the finishing line for resilient flooring products, ensuring product quality and adherence to specifications. • Adjusted machine settings and aligned materials for optimal finish and appearance. • Conducted visual inspections for defects, color variations, and surface imperfections. • Learned to work with measurement tools, gauges, and automated quality control systems. • Maintained accurate records of production and worked closely with team members to hit daily targets. • Followed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and enforced cleanliness and organization on the line.
At the Mohawk IVC Resilient Plant our LVT line was one very long line of the lamination process all together instead of multiple separate processes or departments. I learned the entire process and also would help out at the different operator positions when working overtime, not just as the extruder/calendar roll position. Our line started as the “belt press” which was the base layer of pellets and fiberglass that went into the belt press and melted into the initial layer. After it came out of the belt press it had my extruder “2 roll” layer placed on top that came out of the calendar roll. Then we as the extruder and calendar roll operators operated the print and wear layer and had it overlaying on top of that. After this it went through the “water bath” and then went on into the “Burkles” and “UV Lamps” Then the process was mostly finished, it then went to the end of the line the “stackers” and was cut into slabs and picked up by AGV’s to “cure” before being sent to the finishing department. My “main” roles: • Operated and monitored both extrusion and calendar roll machinery for vinyl flooring production. • Controlled material temperatures, pressure, and speeds to achieve consistent thickness and surface finish. • Conducted routine quality checks and made on-the-fly adjustments to correct deviations. • Learned to troubleshoot issues like roll misalignment, product curling, and flow inconsistencies. • Gained deep understanding of extrusion processes, roll pressure balance, and thermoplastic behavior. • Communicated effectively with upstream and downstream operators to ensure continuous production flow. ⸻ Skills • Calendar Roll Setup & Alignment • Extrusion System Operation • Pulverizing Equipment Maintenance • Quality Assurance & Visual Inspection • LOTO Safety Protocols • Preventive Maintenance • Mechanical Troubleshooting • Team Collaboration & Communication • Computerized Machine Monitoring Systems • Fast Learner in High-Speed Environments
This was my first job that I started in high school. I made employee schedules; managed the crew during work hours & filled in in each position as needed