Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitting Apprentice

Boxmore Plastics Limited is one of the largest suppliers of blow moulded plastic products in Ireland. We supply products to the pharmaceutical, healthcare, industrial and food sectors in Ireland, Europe and Internationally. The company operates a range of high volume automated equipment.

The M.A.M.F. apprenticeship involves 4 years of training as part of the maintenance team in Boxmore Plastics Ltd, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan and off the job training modules carried out at designated Solas training centres.

Duties include mould/product changes, machine breakdown repair, carrying out preventative maintenance routines, monitoring the performance of plant and equipment and to carry out adjustments and maintenance to ensure the agreed quality and efficiency standards are achieved.

Education: Leaving Certificate standard or equivalent and be able to demonstrate a mechanical aptitude. The successful candidate must be diligent, punctual and be able to work independently and as part of the team.

Profile of Craft The Fitter‘s job concerns plant and machinery installation, maintenance and repairs, replacement of broken or work parts, adjustment, servicing and checking components, machinery and equipment, component replacement. Parts may have to be fabricated using machine tools i.e. lathes, milling machines, grinders etc., components may have to be repaired or fabricated using welding, brazing, rivetting, soldering etc. Increasingly machines and processes involve integration with computer and electronic operating and control systems with mechanic/hydraulic and pneumatic devices i.e.PLCs, CNC, CAD, CIM and CAM. At the end of the apprenticeship, the craftsperson will be able to demonstrate competence in the following skills:

• Installation, service, maintenance, fault rectification of process plant, machine tools, power and production equipment • Component fabrication by Turning, Milling, Welding, Cutting, Machining, Drilling, Reaming and Pipe Fabrication • Machine setting/adjustment of control system elements, including computerisation and system programming

Common Skills

Workshop practice including: safe use and maintenance of tools and equipment, marking out, drilling, tapping, reaming, rivetting, fasteners, technical drawings and interpretation of 1st and 3rd angle, isometric, oblique and freehand drawings/symbols.

Safety - hazard avoidance, good workshop practices, basic first aid, fire extinguishers, electrical shocks, lifting, evacuation, basic thermal processes, pattern development, materials, mechanical,handling light fabrication, environmental protection and rational use of energy.

Personal Skills:

• Initiative/adaptability • Verbal communication • Problem solving • Teamwork • Planning • Report writing