Laminator
Department: Production / Casework
Reports To: Shop Foreman
Employment Type: Full-Time
Position Summary
The Laminator is responsible for accurately and safely applying high-pressure laminate, backer, and related surface materials to cabinet components, countertops, panels, fixtures, and other fabricated products.
This position requires careful material identification, proper adhesive application, accurate positioning, trimming, and attention to finished appearance. The Laminator is expected to produce clean, durable laminated components while minimizing material waste and maintaining an efficient production flow.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Apply laminate, backer, and other specified surface materials to plywood, particleboard, MDF, and other substrates.
- Read and interpret shop drawings, cut lists, work orders, and production paperwork.
- Verify laminate manufacturer, pattern, color, finish, thickness, grain or pattern direction, and quantity before fabrication.
- Inspect laminate and substrates for damage, defects, contamination, or incorrect materials before use.
- Measure and cut laminate accurately for countertops, cabinet parts, wall panels, fixtures, and other components.
- Apply contact adhesive or other approved bonding products using proper application methods.
- Ensure proper adhesive coverage, flash time, positioning, and bonding pressure.
- Accurately position laminate to prevent misalignment, shortages, bubbles, wrinkles, or other defects.
- Use rollers, presses, or other equipment as required to achieve proper adhesion.
- Trim laminate flush and clean using routers, trimmers, files, hand tools, or other equipment.
- File, scrape, sand, or finish laminate edges as necessary to produce a clean finished product.
- Fabricate laminated edges, backsplashes, build-ups, countertops, and other components according to shop drawings.
- Maintain correct grain and pattern direction throughout matching or adjacent components.
- Label, organize, stack, and stage completed parts for the next production operation.
- Protect finished laminate surfaces from scratches, chips, adhesive residue, and other damage.
- Minimize waste of laminate, adhesive, substrates, and other materials.
- Keep adhesive equipment, work tables, tools, floors, and surrounding work areas clean and organized.
- Perform basic maintenance and cleaning of laminating tools and equipment.
- Coordinate with saw operators, cabinetmakers, CNC operators, and other production employees to maintain workflow and production priorities.
- Assist with material handling and other shop duties as needed.
Qualifications
- Previous experience with plastic laminate, cabinet manufacturing, millwork, countertops, furniture, or related fabrication preferred.
- Experience working with high-pressure laminate such as Formica, Wilsonart, Nevamar, Pionite, or similar products preferred.
- Ability to accurately read a tape measure to at least 1/16 inch.
- Ability to read and understand shop drawings, cut lists, and written work instructions.
- Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, fractions, and calculating dimensions.
- Ability to identify laminate colors, patterns, finishes, grain directions, and material thicknesses.
- Experience using routers, laminate trimmers, files, rollers, spray equipment, and common hand tools preferred.
- Strong attention to detail and finished appearance.
- Ability to work independently while following production priorities.
- Dependable attendance and ability to maintain a consistent production pace.
Physical Requirements
This position requires regular physical activity in a manufacturing environment. Employees must be able to:
- Stand and walk for the majority of the workday.
- Frequently bend, reach, push, pull, and perform repetitive hand and arm movements.
- Handle large sheets of laminate and sheet goods without damaging materials.
- Lift and carry up to 50 pounds individually and assist with heavier or oversized components.
- Safely maneuver countertops, panels, and large sheet materials with assistance or material-handling equipment as required.
- Work around adhesives, machinery, sawdust, noise, and other normal conditions of a cabinet manufacturing facility.
Safety Responsibilities
Safety is an essential responsibility of this position. The Laminator must:
- Follow all company procedures for handling and applying adhesives and other chemicals.
- Wear required eye, hearing, respiratory, hand, and other personal protective equipment as applicable.
- Follow proper ventilation and fire-safety procedures when using contact adhesives and solvents.
- Safely operate routers, laminate trimmers, spray equipment, rollers, and other machinery or tools.
- Never bypass or disable machine guards or safety devices.
- Properly store adhesives, solvents, and other flammable materials.
- Keep ignition sources away from flammable adhesives and solvents.
- Immediately report unsafe equipment, chemical spills, ventilation issues, or other hazardous conditions.
- Maintain a clean work area to reduce fire, trip, and material-handling hazards.
Quality Expectations
Completed laminated components should:
- Match the laminate manufacturer, pattern, color, finish, and direction specified on the production documents.
- Be securely bonded with no loose areas, bubbles, lifting, or delamination.
- Have clean, smooth, and properly finished edges.
- Be free from excessive adhesive residue, scratches, chips, cracks, burns, or router damage.
- Maintain accurate finished dimensions.
- Have consistent grain or pattern direction where required.
- Be protected and properly staged to prevent damage before assembly or shipment.
Performance Expectations
Successful performance in this position includes:
- Accuracy: Correct materials are applied to the correct parts and fabricated according to drawings and work orders.
- Quality: Finished laminate work is clean, securely bonded, and free from avoidable defects.
- Productivity: Work is completed efficiently and in accordance with production schedules.
- Material Utilization: Laminate, substrates, adhesive, and other materials are used efficiently with minimal unnecessary waste.
- Organization: Materials and completed components are clearly identified and routed to the correct production area.
- Safety: Adhesives, solvents, tools, and machinery are used responsibly and according to company procedures.
- Reliability: Employee maintains dependable attendance, arrives ready to work, and completes assigned responsibilities.
Work Environment
This position is performed in a cabinet and casework manufacturing facility and involves exposure to adhesives, solvents, sawdust, wood products, operating machinery, noise, and moving materials. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn as required.
Other Duties
This job description is intended to describe the primary responsibilities of the position and is not an exhaustive list of all duties. Employees may be assigned other production-related responsibilities based on workload and company needs.
Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
