Plant Maintenance Technician - Mechanical / Tablet Press Specialist

Plant Maintenance Technician (Mechanical / Tablet Press Specialist)

Position Summary

The Plant Maintenance Technician is responsible for the maintenance, repair, optimisation and improvement of production equipment, with a particular focus on tablet press machinery and associated plant equipment. The role requires a highly skilled mechanical artisan capable of stripping, diagnosing, repairing and reassembling complex mechanical equipment while also contributing to equipment upgrades, custom fabrication and production efficiency improvements.

The successful candidate will work closely with production, management and operations teams to ensure equipment reliability, minimise downtime and support improvements in plant layout and industrial efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

1. Equipment Maintenance and Repair

• Perform routine maintenance, servicing and troubleshooting of tablet presses and associated production machinery.
• Strip, inspect, repair and reassemble tablet press equipment and mechanical assemblies.
• Diagnose mechanical faults and implement effective repairs to minimise downtime.
• Conduct preventative maintenance according to maintenance schedules.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and service logs.

2. Mechanical Engineering and Fabrication

• Design, fabricate and assemble basic mechanical equipment and production components.
• Manufacture or modify machine parts where required using appropriate workshop tools and machinery.
• Assist with equipment upgrades and mechanical improvements to existing machinery.
• Support installation and commissioning of new equipment.

3. Production Support and Industrial Efficiency

• Work closely with production teams to identify mechanical constraints affecting output.
• Assist in improving plant layout, workflow and machinery positioning to optimise operational efficiency.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing downtime and improving productivity.

4. Plant and Facility Maintenance

• Maintain general factory equipment including pumps, conveyors, gearboxes, motors and process machinery.
• Assist with installation and relocation of plant equipment.
• Ensure equipment is maintained in a safe and compliant condition.

5. Safety and Compliance

• Follow all plant safety procedures and engineering best practices.
• Ensure machinery is maintained according to safety standards and operational requirements.
• Assist in identifying mechanical risks and implementing preventative controls.

Minimum Qualifications

• Qualified Artisan (Trade Tested), preferably:
  • Fitter and Turner
  • Millwright
  • Mechanical Fitter
• Trade certification recognised in South Africa.
• Minimum 10 years practical experience in manufacturing or industrial operations.

Technical Skills and Competencies

Mechanical Skills

• Advanced mechanical fault finding and diagnostics.
• Stripping and rebuilding of tablet presses or similar mechanical production equipment.
• Precision mechanical assembly and alignment.
• Understanding of bearings, gearboxes, drive systems and mechanical tolerances.
• Machining and fabrication skills (lathe, milling, drilling, cutting).

Engineering and Equipment Design

• Ability to design and fabricate basic mechanical equipment or machine modifications.
• Experience improving machinery functionality and reliability.
• Practical understanding of plant layout optimisation and production efficiency.

Electrical (Advantageous)

• Basic electrical fault finding.
• Understanding of motors, drives and control systems.
• Electrical qualifications or experience would be beneficial but not essential.

Experience Requirements

• At least 10 years experience in manufacturing, production or industrial environments.
• Proven track record in equipment maintenance and machinery repair.
• Experience working with tablet presses or high-load mechanical production machinery will be strongly advantageous.
• Experience in equipment installation, plant upgrades or factory layout improvements.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• High level of integrity and honesty
• Strong work ethic and reliability
• Ability to work under pressure and respond quickly to breakdowns
• Hands-on practical mindset
• Strong problem-solving ability
• Ability to collaborate with production, management and technical teams
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently
• Attention to detail and commitment to quality workmanship

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver's licence (preferred)
• Willingness to work overtime when required during breakdowns or installations
• Ability to operate in a hands-on manufacturing environment

Qualified Artisan (Trade Tested), preferably:

1) Fitter and Turner

2) Millwright

3) Mechanical Fitter

Trade certification recognized in SA.

MINIMUM 10 years practical experience in a manufacturing or industrial operation.

R30K per month.

There are no benefits as it is a contract.