Tool Specialist (Mold Maintenance & Repair Technician)

Tool Specialist (Mold Maintenance & Repair Technician)

Location

Mansfield Ohio on site

Department

Operations

Reports To

Process Manager

Shift

1st shift MondayFriday with overtime and occasional weekend coverage as production requires

Status

Full time hourly non-exempt

Pay Range

$30/hr. to $33 hr. based on experience

Edge Plastics Inc. is a polypropylene injection molding manufacturer headquartered in Mansfield Ohio. We mold and ship storage totes and related housewares for some of the largest retailers in North America running 37 injection molding machines from 260 to 1500 tons around the clock. Our tooling is the heart of the business when a mold runs clean we ship on time. That is why this role matters.

We are a hands-on no-bureaucracy shop. Decisions get made on the floor good ideas get implemented quickly and the people who keep our tooling running are recognized for it.

The Tool Specialist is responsible for the condition performance and service life of Edge Plastics injection molds. This is a working tool room position: you will perform scheduled preventive maintenance diagnose and repair molds both in the press and on the bench and support production with fast correct fixes when a tool goes down. You will work directly with process technicians mold setters and the plant leadership to sustain rated cycle times and part quality.

Preventive Maintenance

• Scheduled PM: Perform preventive maintenance on molds per the PM schedule and cycle-count intervals disassemble clean inspect and reassemble tools to established standards.
• Clean and degrease cavities cores slides and ejector systems; remove gas residue mold release build-up and plate-out from polypropylene.
• Inspect and clear vents gates runners and sub-gates to maintain fill and pack.
• Lubricate and service leader pins bushings slides wear plates cam actions and ejector components.
• Flush descale and pressure-test cooling lines and manifolds; locate and correct restrictions and water leaks.
• Inspect hot runner systems nozzle tips heater bands thermocouples valve gates and check circuits for continuity and proper control.
• Apply rust preventative and stage tools properly for storage; maintain mold storage racks and the tool crib.

Mold Repair & Troubleshooting

• Diagnose tooling issues: Determine whether a defect is tool related or process related and communicate findings clearly to the process and production teams.
• Repair and replace ejector pins sleeves core pins lifters slides springs dowels wear components and inserts.
• Repair parting line damage mismatch flash conditions and pinched or hobbed steel.
• Weld machine stone polish and blend mold steel to restore surface texture and dimension.
• Machine replacement components using manual mill lathe surface grinder and bench equipment; perform basic fitting and spotting.
• Perform in-press repairs safely and efficiently to minimize downtime and make the call when a tool must come out.
• Support hydraulic pneumatic and electrical connections on tooling core pulls unscrewing units hot runner controllers and safety interlocks.

Production & Project Support

• Support mold changes and start-ups; verify tool condition water and safety straps before a tool goes into the press.
• Assist with first-article and dimensional checks after repair to confirm the tool is producing acceptable parts.
• Participate in new tool qualification tool transfers and engineering changes including evaluating incoming tooling condition.
• Recommend design or material improvements that extend tool life shorten cycle time or reduce scrap.

Documentation & Continuous Improvement

• Record all PM and repair activity in the maintenance system work performed parts used hours and cycle counts.
• Maintain accurate mold history files spare-part inventories and reorder points for critical tooling components.
• Identify repeat failures and drive root-cause corrections rather than recurring patch repairs.
• Follow all lockout/tagout hot work and machine guarding procedures without exception and help keep the tool room clean and organized.

Required

• 35 years of hands-on mold maintenance and repair experience in an injection molding plant or equivalent tool-and-die experience in a production environment. A journeyman card or completed apprenticeship is welcome but not required we care what you can do at the bench.
• Proven ability to disassemble troubleshoot repair and reassemble injection molds independently.
• Working knowledge of mold construction: cold runner and hot runner systems slides and lifters ejection systems cooling circuits and mold base components.
• Ability to read and work from mold drawings assembly prints and GD&T basics.
• Proficiency with precision measuring tools micrometers calipers height gauge indicators pin and thread gauges.
• Competence on manual machine tools: mill lathe surface grinder drill press band saw.
• Ability to polish and stone mold surfaces to required finish without damaging texture or dimension.
• Ability and willingness to perform mold changes and machine processing when needed.
• Strong safety mindset including LOTO overhead crane and rigging awareness and safe handling of tools weighing several tons.
• Dependable attendance and the flexibility to stay when a tool is down.

Preferred

• Experience with large tonnage tooling (5001500-ton presses) and multi-cavity family or stack molds.
• Polypropylene or other commodity resin high-volume experience; familiarity with thin-wall and housewares tooling.
• TIG / micro welding on mold steels (P-20 H-13 stainless beryllium copper) and laser welding exposure.
• EDM (sinker or wire) setup and operation.
• Experience with hot runner controllers and troubleshooting heater / thermocouple circuits.
• Use of a CMMS or computerized mold history and PM tracking system.
• Forklift and overhead crane certification.

• Work is performed in a manufacturing plant and tool room. Conditions include noise heat near the press floor and exposure to oils greases and cleaning solvents; required PPE is provided.
• Frequent standing walking bending kneeling reaching and climbing on and around presses and tooling.
• Regularly lift and carry up to 50 lbs.; move heavier components with hoists cranes and carts.
• Close visual work on small components including the ability to detect fine surface defects and read precision instruments.

Schedule: 1st shift Monday through Friday 6am-2:30pm with overtime and occasional weekend coverage as production requires.

Pay: $30 to $33 per hour commensurate with experience.

Benefits include:

• Medical Dental and Vision Insurance
• Company paid life insurance and voluntary life std and ltd policies offered
• 401K Retirement with company matching
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Boot Allowance and uniforms

• Steady year-round work with a manufacturer that has long-standing programs with national retailers not seasonal or project-based employment.
• A large varied tooling portfolio across 37 presses so the work stays interesting and your skills keep growing.
• Direct access to plant leadership. Your recommendations on tooling get heard and acted on.
• A well-equipped tool room and the support to do a repair right rather than just fast.

Required Experience:

IC