Job Description

Company Description

Grimco is a national wholesale sign supply manufacturer and distributor with over 50 locations across North America. We focus on distributing quality products and providing excellent service to the sign industry. Our offering of sign supplies includes traffic signs, blanks, substrates, boards, digital print media, wrap films, sign vinyl, application tape, banner material and supplies, sign frames, banner stands, LEDs and electrical accessories, grand format solvent/UV/latex printers, inks, software and more.

Job Description

The Manufacturing Associate - Mixer is responsible for preparing, blending, and supplying raw materials to extrusion lines according to job specifications. This role operates mixers, blenders, vacuums, augers, grinders, forklifts, and transfer equipment to ensure continuous material flow. Mixers reprocess scrap, close jobs, maintain clean work areas, and support safe, efficient production with a high level of accountability and ownership.

Qualifications

Required

· Experience in manufacturing

· Willing to work night shift (6pm to 6am)

· Ability to operate a forklift or willingness to train

· Basic math skills for measurement and mixing formulas

· Ability to read job specifications and production documents

Preferred

· Experience in plastics, extrusion, mixing, or compounding

· Familiarity with grinders, vacuums, mixers, or transfer systems

CORE COMPETENCIES

· Attention to Detail: Ensures correct materials and contamination-free mixes.

· Extreme Ownership: Takes responsibility for material flow, spills, equipment issues, and regrind accuracy.

· Safety Awareness: Works in a manner that protects people, equipment, and product.

· Communication: Keeps operators and supervisors informed proactively.

· Organization: Maintains clean, efficient, well-labeled material areas.

· Reliability: Provides steady, uninterrupted material supply to production lines.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

· Manufacturing floor environment with heat, noise, airborne dust, and moving equipment.

· Frequent interaction with operators, supervisors, maintenance, and QC.

· Work performed around extruders, grinders, vacuums, forklifts, and material transfer systems.

· Required use of PPE such as cut gloves as needed, safety glasses, and hearing protection.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

· Lift, push, and pull up to 50 lbs regularly

· Stand and walk for long periods (8–12 hour shifts).

· Climb stairs and ladders to access mixers, vacuums, and bins.

· Bend, kneel, crouch, and reach while replacing hoses or clearing jams.

· Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and box tippers requiring full range of motion.

· Work in warm, noisy environments near running extrusion lines and grinders.

· Perform repetitive lifting, twisting, and hose-handling motions.

· Stand on concrete flooring for extended periods.

· Perform silo pit cleaning, requiring sweeping, bending, shoveling, and moderate physical exertion.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Material Preparation & Mixing

· Weigh, blend, and prepare polystyrene resin, regrind, colorants, and additives accurately.

· Operate mixers, blenders, bins, vacuum loaders, and transfer stations.

· Confirm correct materials and amounts before sending to extrusion lines.

· Keep bins filled and staged to support upcoming production runs.

1. Supplying Material to Extrusion Lines

· Provide material to the line consistently and without interruption.

· Monitor line material levels and replenish proactively.

· Communicate with line operators regarding changes, delays, or low material status.

· Troubleshoot flow issues such as blocked hoses, vacuum loss, auger jams, and tipper malfunctions.

1. Equipment Operation & Maintenance

Operate and maintain all mixing equipment.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

· Daily visual checks on equipment functionality

· Replacing broken hoses when maintenance is unavailable

· Ensuring material paths are clear and unobstructed

· Monitoring for leaks, worn parts, or unusual equipment behavior

1. Scrap Reprocessing

· Collect scrap for reprocessing.

· Feed scrap/trim into grinder/regrind systems safely and correctly.

· Ensure scrap is free of contamination before processing.

· Confirm regrind percentages align with job specifications.

1. Job Closing & Documentation

· Track material used, scrap created, and leftover materials.

· Record resin, regrind, and additive consumption accurately.

· Report discrepancies in material usage to the supervisor.

· Close jobs in the system at the completion of each run.

1. Cleaning & Housekeeping

· Clean up spills immediately to maintain a safe environment.

· Blow down and vacuum mixers, blenders, vacuums, and surrounding areas daily.

· Rotate weekly: one mixer cleans the silo pit area thoroughly.

· Collect and band gaylord boxes.

· Stage unused materials for storage or next run.

1. Safety Responsibilities

· Operate forklifts and equipment in accordance with safety guidelines.

· Wear all required PPE at all times.

· Follow lockout/tagout procedures when clearing jams or performing equipment checks.

· Report spills, leaks, damaged equipment, or unsafe conditions immediately.

· Maintain clear aisles and safe, unobstructed workspaces.

1. Communication & Collaboration

· Work closely with line operators, QC, and supervisors to maintain smooth production flow.

· Notify operators of delays, changes to material mix, or equipment concerns.

· Provide accurate updates during shift change handoffs.

· Communicate scrap issues, unusual material usage, or mixing inconsistencies.

Additional Information

WHAT WE BRING:

• Great hourly pay with night shift differential (additional 1.50/hour for night shift)!
• Full benefits - medical, dental, vision (premiums haven't increased in 16+ years)
• 401K with profit sharing - 6% of total compensation
• Paid training program take a trip to our St. Louis HQ - product knowledge, systems, sales strategy, the works - travel expenses covered by us.
• Paid parental leave, holidays, PTO rollover, and volunteer time off

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT SALES ORIENTATION –SAINT LOUIS, MO:

· Opportunity to attend Grimco’s Training & Development Sales Orientation in Saint Louis, Missouri.

· Focused training time consisting of a mix of one-on-one training, virtual training, and shadowing.

· Training focuses on Grimco’s products, computer systems, phones/customers, sales/service, purchasing, logistics, web store, marketing, safety, accounting, human resources, and reports.

· Split between break-out sessions and hands-on learning environment.

· Rotation within departments for a diverse look at how employees approach tasks and achieve goals.

· Full-time salary includes training period. Travel accommodations and expenses provided per Grimco National Travel Policy. Training location determined by corporate/regional training team schedule.

We've been around for 150 years and do $1.5 billion in revenue — but we're still family-owned with 65+ locations across North America. You get the stability of an established company with the feel of a place where people actually know your name. We invest in training, promote from within, and build careers — not just fill seats.

Interested? Learn more at https://connect.grimco.com/careers

By completing this online application for employment, you certify that the information on this application is true and complete to the best of your knowledge. You understand that any misrepresentation or omission of fact in response to any inquiry made in this application may result in rejection of application or, if hired, dismissal whenever it is discovered. You authorize and release all parties from any liability or damage that may result from seeking, furnishing, or using such information. You understand and agree that, if hired, your employment is for no definite period and may, regardless of the date of payment of compensation, be terminated by Grimco, Inc. at any time, for any or no reason, with or without notice. You understand that no representation to the contrary is valid unless in writing, set a definite term of employment, and signed by the company's CEO. You further understand and agree that any job offer is contingent upon your passing, to the company's satisfaction, a drug and/or alcohol test, criminal background check and other possible screenings. You understand that this application is active for 90 days only, and if you do not hear from the company but still wish to be considered for employment after 90 days, you will need to fill out a new application.