Prepress Technician

AWT is a leading manufacturer of custom labels, flexible packaging, and precision converting solutions servicing Healthcare, Consumer Brand, and Technology clients worldwide. AWT employs nearly 650 associates and operates facilities in Minneapolis, MN (Headquarters), South Elgin, IL, Hauppauge, NY, Grand Blanc, MI, Anaheim, CA, Ottawa, Canada, Napa, CA, Winston-Salem, NC, and Vaughan, Canada. AWT is the trusted partner for leading brands, delivering comprehensive, innovative, and sustainable solutions with exceptional quality, expertise, and responsiveness. More information about AWT can be found at www.awtlabelpack.com

ASL Print FX, a subsidiary of AWT provides award winning label and packaging solutions, printed promotional materials, direct mail, and envelope manufacturing. ASL Print FX’s goal is to enhance and protect our customers’ brand. Based in Vaughan, our company’s primary focus revolves around crafting highly embellished labels for industries such as Wine and Spirits, Health & Beauty, Food & Beverage, Promotional, and more.

ASL Print FX has an opening for a permanetn, full-time Prepress Technician.

Key Competencies, Knowledge and Skills:

• Experienced in Prepress (5 years), specifically flexographic and digital printing and including workflow automation, automated trapping/stepping, flexographic platemaking and QA procedures) with post-secondary education or diploma (Printing Technology or Graphic Communications Management).
• Able to optimize files for different printing methods and substrates.
• Proficient with prepress software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), as well as prepress workflow systems (Kodak, Esko, Hybrid, etc.), and generally comfortable with technology.
• Skilled with Plate QA and soft-proofing (virtual proofing and TIFF assembly).
• Capable of good colour proofing (ink-jet) and prototyping (CGS, GMG, EFI, etc).
• Familiar with press and post-press operations (flexography, water/UV-based inks, trapping, screening, challenging substrates, stamping and embossing).
• Proactive problem solver with excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Able to achieve planned results by utilizing organization and prioritization skills, while working collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Detailed-oriented and methodical.
• Excellent communicator (verbal and written skills)
• Able to read and review technical drawings and documentation.
• Multitasker with good time management skills
• Safety-first attitude
• Highly ethical worker

Responsibilities:

• Organizes and prepares final art into production files, including applying dielines, adjusting for copy-safe, correcting separations, applying minimum-dot, and refining files through our PDF workflow system.
• Identifies potential issues in final art that were not intercepted during preflight and provides feedback to the CSR/sales team.
• Generates PDFs and colour proofs for client approval.
• Generates prototypes based on client sample and test files.
• Ensures that each step of the process is signed off after thorough visual checks and QA, according to our internal procedures.
• Collaborates and provides feedback to team members to ensure smooth transitions between planning, prepress, and press for each job.
• Provides guidance to CSR/sales regarding file requirements and ensure that there are always options available to proceed with artwork in the production process.
• Thinks critically in dealing with obstacles and provide solutions to other departments in the workflow.
• Collaborates with the department regarding new software, tools, and skills while contributing to our knowledge base.
• Approaches challenges as an opportunity to build trust and educate colleagues as well as other team members throughout the company.
• Other duties as assigned.

What ASL Print FX provides:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive group benefits
• The opportunity to learn and develop professionally with a diverse team in an inclusive organization where everyone can succeed based on merit.
• Open corporate culture anchored on integrity, teamwork, adaptability and responsibility.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome and encourage all applications. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.