A professional who operates hydraulic press, equipped with steam or electrically heated platens, to cast rubber or plastic matrices and rubber dies or types. Respnsibilities include:

• Turns dial to set electric thermostat or steam valves to maintain specified temperature in press.
• Inserts chase containing type into press to heat type to specified temperature, or inserts engraved metal plate into press.
• Places sheet of hard plastic or similar material on type and allows to heat for prescribed period of time.
• Pulls lever to impress material into type form to make matrix.
• Peels matrix from type, places rubber of plastic sheet on matrix and inserts it in press.
• Places metal strips (bearers) of specified thickness along sides of rubber or plastic and matrix to limit depth of pressing and determine thickness of die.
• Repeats heating and casting process to produce rubber die.
• Trims excess rubber from edges of designs, letters, symbols, and figures, using curved knife.
• May mix casting compound and water to puttylike consistency, spread compound on mold plate, invert casting plate over type, press compound into type and dry compound in oven.
• When making rubber dies or type, may be known as Vulcanizer, Rubber Plate.