pressman

Pressman is a worker who operates a printing press to produce printed materials. In shop floors that use offset, letterpress, or web presses, the pressman is responsible for setting up the job, mounting plates or cylinders, adjusting ink and water balance, and ensuring proper sheet or web feeding. They monitor impression quality, color alignment, registration, and drying, and perform troubleshooting for issues such as misregistration, ink splatter, or blanket wear. Routine maintenance and cleaning are part of the role.

Pressmen work in commercial printing, packaging, and newspaper production. In newspapers, the pressman operates large, high-volume web presses that print the daily edition; in commercial printers, they may operate multi-color offset presses and digital front ends integrated with prepress systems. Training is typically through an apprenticeship or technical program, covering printing processes, color theory, press chemistry, paper handling, and safety. Modern presses rely on computer-to-plate or computer-to-press workflows, automated color control, and real-time quality monitoring, with evolving emphasis on efficiency, waste reduction, and maintenance. As automation grows, the job title increasingly appears as press operator or printer, though many shops still use the term pressman, particularly in traditional or industrial settings.