Label Finishing & Embellishment Operator

Label Finishing & Embellishment Operator
ABG Digicon Series 3  |  JetFX Embellishment  |  Delam/Relam Printing

Calyx Containers  |  Salt Lake City, UT  |  Full-Time, On-Site  |  Reports to the Production Manager
Internal title: Production Operator II, Printing & Finishing

Compensation is competitive and we share the full range in the first conversation.
 Calyx Containers is a 10-year-old packaging company serving the cannabis industry from Salt Lake City. We design, manufacture, and source compliant packaging (rigid containers, flexible packaging, and labels) through a hybrid model that combines our own domestic digital manufacturing facility with an international sourcing and brokering network. This year we launched packOS, our new digital quoting and ordering platform, which is transforming how customers get from artwork to delivered product. We are a manufacturing business, a sourcing business, and now a technology-enabled one. Every label order that comes through packOS ends on a finishing line, and this role runs ours.
 You run our ABG Digicon Series 3, the finishing and embellishment line that turns printed rolls from our HP Indigo presses into finished labels ready to ship. You set it up, run it, and troubleshoot it on your own across every station we use: JetFX tactile and spot effects, delam/relam printing, varnish and lamination, die cutting, matrix stripping, slitting, and rewind. Success means jobs come off the line on spec, on schedule, and with as little waste as possible.

This is a journeyman seat. You already know converting equipment, and you do not need someone standing next to you for a die change. If you have not run inkjet embellishment or delam/relam before, we will train and certify you on both. Strong finishing fundamentals are what we hire for. You will also help train Operator I teammates and bring us ideas that cut setup time and scrap. As we roll AI-enabled productivity and automation through every department, the operators who lean in get bigger jobs, faster.
 Setup and Changeover

• Independent job setup. Read the job ticket and set up the line from scratch: web path, tension, register, embellishment and delam stations, varnish or laminate, die, slitter knives, core size, and wind direction.
• Die and tooling changes. Mount and change magnetic cylinders and flexible dies, set anvil pressure and cut depth, and confirm a clean kiss cut before you run.
• Fast changeovers. Use the line's automation (gap sensing, automatic knife setting, turret rewind) to move between short runs quickly. Digital work means many jobs a shift, and changeover time is where the day is won or lost.

Embellishment and Specialty Printing

• JetFX tactile and spot effects. Load effect files from prepress, register them to the print, set UV cure, and run tactile varnish, spot gloss, and digital foil when the job calls for it.
• Printhead care. Own the daily inkjet routine: purges, cleaning, nozzle checks, and fluid levels. Healthy heads are the difference between a premium effect and a reprint.
• Delam/relam printing. Separate face stock from liner, print on the adhesive side or under the label, and relaminate in register with no wrinkles, contamination, or adhesive issues. This is how we produce peel-and-reveal and under-label copy.

Running and Quality

• First-article sign-off. Check the first labels against the approved proof and job spec: cut position, print and effect registration, tactile height and feel, foil and varnish coverage, readable reveal copy after relamination, label size, gap, and wind direction. Nothing runs until it is right.
• In-run quality checks. Pull samples at set intervals and watch for register or cut drift, nozzle dropouts, relam wrinkles, lifting laminate, flagging, and matrix breaks. Correct it before it becomes waste.
• Rolls that work on the customer's line. Finished rolls leave with the right label count, core, OD, wind direction, and roll labeling so they run cleanly on the customer's applicator.

Troubleshooting and Maintenance

• Diagnose problems at the machine. Work through tension, registration, embellishment, relamination, cutting, stripping, and slitting issues on your own, and know when to bring in the Production Manager or ABG service.
• Routine maintenance. Clean, lubricate, and inspect on schedule. Take care of dies, knives, and printheads, and log anything that needs attention before it causes downtime.
• Track what the line is doing. Record setup time, run time, waste, and downtime in Label Traxx so we can see exactly where the line loses time and material.

Team and Improvement

• Train Operator I teammates. Teach setup, safety, and quality checks, and help certify others on the Digicon.
• Coordinate upstream. Work with prepress and the press operators to flag artwork, die line, effect layer, and reveal artwork issues before they cost material on your line.
• Make the line better. Propose standard setups, SOPs, and checklists that cut changeover time and scrap. Write down what you know so it does not live only in your head.
• Safety and 5S. Follow lockout/tagout, guarding, PPE, and chemical handling rules every time, and keep the area clean, organized, and ready for the next shift.

• A finisher who cares about the last step. A label is only done when it looks right, feels right, and runs on the customer's line.
• Mechanically sharp. You hear when something is off and you know where to look.
• Independent on the machine. You own your setups and fixes, and you ask for help early when something is outside the norm.
• Eager to learn new technology. Inkjet embellishment and delam/relam are skills you want on your resume.
• A patient teacher. You like showing others the right way to do it.
• Improvement-minded. You would rather fix a recurring problem once than work around it every shift, and you are open to AI and new tools that help you get there.
• Comfortable in a company that is changing. Growing volume, a new platform, and new ways of working are the interesting part.

Required

• 3+ years running label finishing or converting equipment (die cutting, slitting, rewinding) in a narrow-web label or flexible packaging environment.
• Able to independently set up and run a finishing line, including die changes, slitter setup, and tension and register adjustments.
• Solid understanding of pressure-sensitive label construction (face stock, adhesive, liner) and how materials behave in die cutting, matrix stripping, and relamination.
• Able to read job tickets and specs: label size, repeat, across and around, core, OD, and wind direction.
• Mechanical troubleshooting skills and comfort with shop math and measuring tools.
• Strict safety habits, including lockout/tagout.
• Basic computer skills for job tracking and production reporting.

Preferred

• Inkjet embellishment experience: ABG JetFX or DigiJet, MGI JETvarnish, Scodix, or similar.
• Delam/relam, peel-and-reveal, or adhesive-side printing experience.
• Experience on an ABG Digicon or other ABG finishing equipment. Grafotronic, GM, Rotoflex, or similar modular finishers also count.
• Experience finishing HP Indigo or other digital print, with short runs and frequent changeovers.
• Experience with UV flexo varnish, lamination, cold foil, or hot foil.
• Label Traxx or a similar print MIS.
• Experience training or certifying other operators.
• Cannabis, food, or consumer packaged goods label experience.

Calyx uses four production levels: Operator I, Operator II, Operator III, and Production Lead. Your level reflects certified capability and travels with you, not the machine.

• Operator I runs the line on established setups with guidance and is learning setup and changeover.
• Operator II (this role) sets up, runs, and troubleshoots the Digicon independently across our full job mix, including JetFX and delam/relam, and helps train Operator I teammates.
• Operator III is certified across multiple machines or areas, owns advanced troubleshooting, and leads improvement projects.

There is a clear path from here to Operator III and Production Lead for the person who wants it.
 

• Production floor with machine noise. Hearing protection and other PPE are provided.
• Stand and walk for most of the shift. Bend, reach, and repeatedly lift up to 50 lbs (rolls, dies, and cores).
• Work around moving machinery, UV curing, sharp tooling, and UV inkjet fluids, following strict safety and chemical handling practices.

Full-time, on-site, hourly. We will talk through the shift schedule in the first conversation.
Benefits include health, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k), HSA, FSA, and company-paid AD&D insurance.
 Calyx just turned ten. Our domestic label operation is growing, and packOS is sending more short-run label orders into the building every month. Tactile effects, foil and peel-and-reveal are how our customers stand out on the shelf, and the Digicon is where all of it happens. We need an experienced operator who owns that line. You will have real ownership, a direct line to the Production Manager, and a clear path to grow.

To apply, send your resume to [email protected] with the subject line "Label Finishing & Embellishment Operator." Cover letter is encouraged.

Calyx Containers LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other protected status.
 

MORE ABOUT US:

Our team is composed of bright, hardworking, creative, and highly motivated individuals looking to make an impact on the world. We seek like-minded colleagues who share our values and want to apply their experience, energy, and enthusiasm to help grow and scale a dynamic business in a rapidly expanding industry. The Calyx Containers culture fosters the personal and professional growth in a challenging and rewarding environment. We operate at a fast pace, demand high personal standards, and offer everyone the opportunity to contribute, skill-build, and develop their talents.

Benefits and Perks offered to full time employees:
-Flexible Paid Time Off
-Comprehensive benefits offerings including: Medical (with company-funded HRA), Dental, Vision, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Headspace Care Mental Health support...all effective the first day of the month following hire.
-401(k)
-Ability to make an immediate impact
-Monthly team meetings and frequent social events

An ideal Calyx candidate looks like:
-Has experience in the cannabis and/or packaging industry
-Thrives in a fast-paced environment
-Handles ambiguity with a positive attitude
-Rolls up their sleeves to help their team

How success is measured at Calyx:
First 30 days spent getting to know the company and our team!
Ability to make an immediate impact - we’re growing quickly and want you to help cultivate that!
Living our core values:
--X-treme Ownership
--Be Quick, But Don’t Hurry
--Sustainability Is Multi-Dimensional
--We Are Square: Quality Does Not Cut Corners
--Customer Is The Only Boss
--Earn Success Every Day
--The Biggest Failure Is The Failure To Ask For Help
--Better Together: Cultivate An Inclusive Environment

Calyx Containers is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe strongly in fair hiring practices and in creating a welcoming environment for all team members. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Diversity drives innovation; inclusion drives success. We believe a multitude of approaches and ideas enable us to deliver the best results for our workforce, workplace, and customers. We are committed to fostering a culture where all employees can share their passions and ideas so we can tackle the toughest challenges in our industry and pave new paths to limitless possibilities.
Calyx is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [email protected]. (Please note that applications should not be emailed to this address).