Offset Plate Maker – Kenosha.
I’ve been with Colbert since the Spring of 2020. My main responsibility as a platemaker is to prepare plates for three of our printing presses in Kenosha. My typical day involves so much more than just platemaking. I start each day by checking the schedules and breaking them down in priority, pulling job jackets, checking all the files and specs to be sure everything is as it should be. If it’s an international job, I’ll take a sampling and make sure the language matches up. I check die numbers, pull vinyls and check samples. Once jobs are approved and I receive the files, I then transfer them to the appropriate file type (.xmf), and thoroughly check all aspects of the job, including images, language, die count, colors, paper size, etc. If the job is a new order, I will make a proof and if it’s a rerun, I take samples of the previous run and match it to the vinyl. Then the plates are run and checked to make sure there are no defects, discolorations, scratches, or nicks. I also make coating blankets for new jobs, and I serve as a backup on making Flexo plates. Once a project is plated, I complete the paperwork and submit it to my management.
What I like most about my job is…EVERYTHING! I look forward to coming in every day. I work independently, but it’s also about the people I work with. We cover each other, but I love that I have my area, do my own thing, and love it! Once you get hired on, you prove yourself. The company takes a chance on you, and if you do a good job, there is room for opportunity and advancement. Once you’re comfortable with what you’re doing, you can look for ways to improve or learn new things. When I first started, I was a temp aerating loads, then tooling, creating barcodes, working as a feeder, and other responsibilities, until I jumped over to prepress. And I still love helping out in other departments when help is needed.
To me, the Colbert brand means having a good system from start to finish and making sure everything is done to our best abilities.