Full-Time

Loom Operator

Phifer

Phifer

501-1,000 employees

Manufactures insect screening and sun-control fabrics

No salary listed

Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

In Person

Category
Manufacturing & Production Operations (1)

Get referred to Phifer

See people who can refer or advise you

Requirements
  • Ability to read and perform written instructions for loom operation, weaving procedures, defect identification, correction procedures, shift duties, and loom maintenance.
  • Ability to read a tape measure to 1/32 of an inch.
  • Ability to handle and move material without damage and document and account for raw material usage.
  • Ability to work overtime as scheduled or required.
  • Ability to perform the physical demands of pushing, pulling, carrying, lifting, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, and flexing the trunk.
  • Ability to conform to all safety rules.
  • Must have 20/35 or correctable vision in each eye.
Responsibilities
  • Operate Dornier and Sulzer looms, including beginning-of-shift, general, specific, end-of-shift, and hour-by-hour duties.
  • Operate looms to weave yarn into cloth according to established procedures.
  • Detect weaving, filler, and warp-end defects and problems on Dornier and Sulzer looms.
  • Apply correction procedures for weaving, filler, and warp defects and problems.
  • Perform maintenance on looms.
  • Repair warp and filler breaks in yarn.
  • Monitor and replace empty fill-yarn supply packages.
  • Notify the Loom Fixer of mechanical defects.
  • Replace defective warp yarn and repair incorrect loom threading.
  • Monitor looms to ensure that fabric and fill yarn conform to the work order.
  • Check grading defects, samples, and work orders.
  • Check the loom computer for downtime and complete interrupted setup.
  • Perform 5S tasks as needed.
  • Perform all duties safely and other departmental duties assigned by the supervisor.
Desired Qualifications
  • High school diploma or GED preferred.
  • Reading and mathematics at an eighth-grade equivalency or higher on the Test of Adult Basic Education exam through the Continuous Education and Development program, or an appropriate WorkKeys score based on the profile.
  • Six months of previous work experience in a manufacturing or heavy industrial environment preferred.
  • Basic knowledge of computer operations preferred.
  • Knowledge of weaving operations preferred.

Phifer manufactures insect screening, solar control fabrics, drawn wire, and engineered textiles for global markets. Its products include aluminum and fiberglass window screens, SheerWeave interior shading fabrics, Phifertex outdoor fabrics, and technical textiles used in filtration and reinforcement. It differentiates itself as the world’s largest producer of aluminum and fiberglass insect screening, with a long, family-owned history and GREENGUARD-certified low-emission interior fabrics. Its goal is to provide durable, sustainable textile and screening solutions for residential, commercial, automotive, and marine markets while expanding its global footprint.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Founded

1952

Get referred to Phifer

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • May 2026 Phifer bought Indiana Coated Fabrics, adding coated and laminated fabric capacity.
  • SheerWeave RE-USE and Sunbrella Sling launched in 2026, expanding sustainable premium offerings.
  • Phifer’s global facilities in Alabama, California, Italy, India, and Asia support export growth.

What critics are saying

  • August 2026 integration of Indiana Coated Fabrics distracts management and delays synergies.
  • Sunbrella Sling ties Phifer’s growth to Glen Raven’s brand strategy and contract renewals.
  • Chinese and Mexican screen imports undercut pricing; margin compression can break family-owned niche economics.

What makes Phifer unique

  • Phifer’s 1952 Tuscaloosa weaving and wire-drawing heritage still anchors its manufacturing moat.
  • GREENGUARD Gold certification spans SheerWeave, Phifertex, and major insect-screen lines.
  • July 2026 Sunbrella Sling licensing extends Phifer into premium branded furniture fabrics.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays