Tire Retread Technician

Tire Retread Technician

Overview:

Using Bandag Retreading Technology, you will retread truck tires for some of the largest fleets in New England. Perform work to inspect, buff, repair, build, heat, seal tires through operating machines to re-build tires from rubber components. This job description will encompass all duties associated with Initial Inspection, Shearographer, Buffer, Repair, Builder, Chamber, Extruders, and Final Inspection.

Licenses & Certifications:

• Valid Driver’s License preferred

Minimum Education:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent preferred

Required Skills

• Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things
• Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials
• Observing, receiving and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources
• Environment is very hot during summer months and colder during winter months
• Exposure to various chemicals used in cleaning, lubrication, etc
• Frequent bending, twisting and lifting over 50 lbs and up to 125 lbs. or more on a regular basis
• 100 lbs of pressure when pushing tires
• Repetitive and sustained exertions, forceful exertions, awkward postures, mechanical stress concentrations, vibrations in an environment that includes machinery noise, dust and exposure to heat
• Must have ability to understand and comprehend English
• Must be physically and mentally able to safely perform the essential functions without obvious risk of injury to the employee and co-workers
• Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, and quality control
• Ability to learn other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods 
• Ability to watch gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly
• Ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate or assemble objects
• Ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull or carry objects
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers as necessitated by the work
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions

Physical Demands:

Exerts 50 to 75 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Frequently reaches (extending hands and arms in any direction), handles (seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or working with hands), and identifies and distinguishes colors. Occasionally climbs (ascends or descends ladders, stairs, ramps, and the like), balances. Occasionally stoops (bending the body downward and forward by bending at the waist, legs and spine), and kneels (bending the legs at knee to come to rest on knee or knees).

Essential Functions:

RETREADING

• Must maintain regular attendance and ability to be at work on time each scheduled workday
• Inspect worn tires for faults, cracks, cuts and nail holes, and to determine if tires are suitable for retreading
• Operates a buffing machine to remove treads from tires to be retreaded, following specifications for depth and width
• Measures diameter and cross section to determine correct tread width
• Build semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings in order to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping and retreading processes
• Applies rubber cement to tire casing and hangs up to dry
• Selects proper size tread rubber and applies it to the tire
• Places tire in chamber and programs correct curing temperature according to specification
• Sets timer for curing time according to chart, and makes record of each tire showing size and curing time
• Removes finished retread from curing chamber. Also removes rim and curing bag from finished retread
• Inspects tires to determine defects in curing, (soft cures, ply separation, repairs missed, etc.)
• Checks finished tire with work order for proper identification and completion of work required
• Trims and paints finished retread

REPAIR

• Inspects tires to determine type of repair required, indicates repairs to be made and marks repair only
• Skives out and buffs injury inside and out for proper size repair
• Applies proper cement to inside injury and builds up repair using correct size repair patch
• Covers outside injury with layer of cushion gum and fills with tread gum
• Makes final inspection of repair, cuts tread design with regrooving iron, paints tire and places in finished stock

OTHER DUTIES

• Inspects repairs and lubricates equipment, following mfg. instructions to maintain good operating condition
• Maintains standards of cleanliness, orderliness and appearance of plant. Sweeps floors and walls as necessary
• Receives, unloads and stores in designated places, tread, rubber, repair material, curing bags, etc
• Must comply with Company Safety Policy and follow fire prevention instructions
• Maintains a stock of tread rubber and repair materials, advising manager when replenishment is necessary
• Ability and flexibility to perform other duties as assigned by Manager

Statement of Other Duties

This document describes the major duties and responsibilities for this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that employees may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described.