Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Mechanic in plastics and rubber processing (m/f)

Duration of traineeship

3 years
The venues for training delivery are the training company and the vocational school
Training is provided in one of four specialisms:

• mouldings
• semi-manufactures
• laminated rubber parts
• components

Field of activity

Mechanics in plastics and rubber processing use various processing techniques, depending on the parameters required, to produce - inter alia - mouldings, laminated rubber parts and semi-manufactures.
When manufacturing components they use various processing techniques to transform semi-manufactures into pipes, assemblies, containers, or finished goods.
Concerning the processing technology, they break in and operate the corresponding plant, and are also responsible for planning, monitoring and controlling the manufacturing process. A further area covered is the use of jointing, machining and other processing techniques to produce and assemble components, pipes, assemblies, containers, etc.
Within the machinery and plant installations, they are responsible for the control technology, including the commissioning and maintenance of tools, machines and plant.

Occupational skills

The main activities are:

• health and safety at the workplace, environmental protection;
• maintenance of operating resources;
• reading, applying and producing technical documents, data protection;
• planning and controlling work sequences, monitoring and evaluating the results;
• processing metals;
• distinguishing and classifying different types of synthetics, rubbers, additives and other process materials;
• processing synthetic semi-manufactures;
• jointing and reshaping;
• distinguishing between different sources and types of energy, applying these to appropriate processes;
• assembling and preparing moulding materials or semi-manufactures appropriate to the process envisaged;
• processing and machining polymers;
• mounting and testing pneumatic and hydraulic circuits;
• measurement and control;
• commissioning machinery, plant and other devices;
• planning, controlling and monitoring the processing of polymers;
• quality management.

Last modified on: December 12, 2006