Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Production
Work centers on machines that form continuous filaments from liquid polymer, rayon, or fiberglass. Operators load material with hand tools, set feed rates, and move controls to start and adjust the line. They watch machines, control boards, and gauges for faults such as clogged bushings or a bad binder applicator, then stop the equipment when a run ends or something fails. Other workers are told about defects so they can adjust the machines; malfunctions are recorded, and the equipment is cleaned and maintained with hand tools. The role suits people who like loading process machinery, reading gauges, and working with others on mechanical problems.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$46'350
Median Wage Market Position
$46'350
What you might do
- Set up machines that form continuous synthetic filaments
- Load materials and set the feed rate
- Watch for clogged bushings and faulty binder applicators
- Stop the machine when a run finishes or fails
- Direct coworkers to adjust machines after defects
- Clean forming machines and log any breakdowns
Skills that matter
- Watching extrusion gauges and control boards
- Setting feed rates for filament forming
- Stopping machines when processes fail
- Directing coworkers to correct defects
- Logging details of machine malfunctions
- Loading polymer or fiberglass by hand
AI & the future of this role
Process control software and smarter extruders could take over much of the continuous filament monitoring and basic setup once lines are dialed in. Physical tending, fiber-quality checks, and troubleshooting when runs go wrong still require people, but headcount pressure is likely.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details