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Laminator Operator

TOPPAN Packaging · Elk Grove, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This is a 5:45 PM to 6:15 AM continental schedule, three nights one week and four the next. What makes you confident you can stay sharp and show up reliably on that rotation?

What they are checking: Whether they have a real plan for sleep, family and transportation, since night-shift attendance is where most new hires fall off.

Tell me about a time you read a work order or job ticket and caught something that was wrong or unclear.

What they are checking: Attention to detail on paperwork, since misreading a job order sends the wrong material or spec down the line.

Tell me about a time you worked around moving rollers or other equipment that could hurt you. What habits kept you safe?

What they are checking: Whether they have real safety habits around nip points and rotating equipment, not just a general promise to be careful.

Describe a time you reported a quality problem that you could have ignored. What happened after?

What they are checking: Whether they will speak up about defects even when it slows the line or reflects on a coworker.

The retention bonus pays out at 90 and 180 days. What has kept you at past jobs, and what has made you leave?

What they are checking: Honest signals about staying power, since the employer is clearly trying to reduce early turnover in this role.

What would you do

You're mixing adhesive for a run and the formula on the job order looks different from what you used last time on the same product. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stop and verify instead of guessing, because a bad adhesive batch can ruin an entire laminated roll.

Midway through the night you notice bubbles or wrinkles showing up in the laminate. Your supervisor isn't nearby. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they know when to stop the machine and who to escalate to, instead of running defects to keep numbers up.

Sometimes you may be asked to set up and run the lathe. How do you approach learning a machine you haven't used before?

What they are checking: Willingness to follow written procedures and ask for training rather than figuring out unfamiliar equipment by trial and error.

About the work

Walk me through how you would check a first piece before letting a laminating run go.

What they are checking: Whether they understand first-piece conformance as a gate that protects the whole run, not a box to tick.

What do you know about handling hazardous waste, like using satellite containers, and why does it matter how they're labeled and closed?

What they are checking: Basic awareness that solvent and adhesive waste is regulated and that sloppy handling creates safety and compliance risk.

This plant cleans to SQF standards because the packaging touches food. What does keeping a machine and work area clean look like to you on a busy shift?

What they are checking: Whether they see sanitation as part of the job in food packaging rather than something done only when there is time.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at TOPPAN Packaging from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by TOPPAN Packaging.

Position: Laminator Operator (Day Shift & Night Shift Available ) Location: Elk Grove Village Shift: 5:45 AM – 6:15 PM OR 5:45 PM – 6:15 AM | 12-hour continental schedule (3 days one week, 4 days the next, off every other weekend) Pay Rate: $21.74/hour ($2.00 shift differential if applicable) Summary Description The Laminator Operator I reports directly to the Department Manager and is responsible for operating laminating equipment safely and efficiently while maintaining product quality, machine cleanliness, and production standards. What You’ll Be Doing • Mix adhesive according to established formulas • Verify first-piece conformance to product specifications • Set up and operate lathe machine according to operating procedures when needed • Interpret job orders accurately • Maintain cleanliness of machines, equipment, and surrounding work area to SQF standards • Use satellite containers for hazardous waste handling • Generate and manage hazardous waste as part of production processes • Report quality concerns to manager, supervisor, or group leader for review and correction • Report all accidents immediately to shift management • Report unsafe acts and unsafe conditions immediately • Verify adhesive calculations for each production run • Verify required impression rollers, cut or resurface to specifications • Report food safety violations to management • Add adhesive, change raw material rolls, and manage substrates during operation • Operate machine for break coverage when needed • Perform additional duties assigned by leadership • Participate in performance system activities including audits, near misses, and improvement teams We’d Love to Hear From You If • You have at least 1 year of machine operator experience (laminator experience preferred but not required) • You have experience measuring and working with chemicals • You can read a ruler or tape measure accurately • You have basic math skills • You are comfortable working in a manufacturing environment that may be dirty • You have a strong attendance, safety, and quality record • High school diploma or GED preferred but not required. Candidates who demonstrate the necessary manufacturing experience and the required literacy, numeracy, and technical skills will be considered regardless of educational background. Benefits At TOPPAN Packaging Americas, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to support overall wellbeing. Benefits may vary based on location, employment classification, or collective bargaining agreement and may include: • Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options • 401(k) retirement plan with company match • Paid vacation and holidays • Employee Assistance Program and wellbeing resources • Company-paid and voluntary insurance plans including life, accident, and disability coverage • Tuition reimbursement Equal Opportunity Employer TOPPAN Packaging Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to contribute to their fullest potential. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and employment processes. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us.

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