How to become a metal making and treating process operative
Official title: Metal making and treating process operatives
Also called: Metal mixer, Metal caster, Metal dipper, Metal plater, Metal runner, Metal bronzer, Metal sprayer, Metal extruder, Process worker, Metal tube maker, Process operator, White metal plater
Metal making and treating process operatives operate furnaces, ovens and other heating vessels, drawing, rolling, extruding, galvanising, forging and other metal processing equipment to smelt, shape, coat and treat metal and metal products.
Main tasks
- Charges furnace, operates controls to regulate furnace temperature, and adds oxidising, alloying and fluxing agents as required
- Withdraws samples of molten metal for analysis, taps slag from surface of molten metal and directs flow of molten metal into casts
- Sets rolling speed, tension and space between rolls, guides the metal to and from rollers, and monitors the rolling process to detect irregularities, and ensure that the gauge and finish match required specifications
- Operates equipment to remove dirt, scale and other surface impurities by immersion in chemical solution
- Heats metal or metal articles in furnace, allows to cool for a specified time or quenches in brine, oil or water to harden, reduces brittleness and restores ductility
- Operates piercing, extruding, pressing and other metal processing equipment to shape and treat metal or metal articles
- Coats metal parts and articles electrolytically, forms metal articles by electro- and vacuum-deposition, dips and sprays articles with another metal, plastic powder or material and treats articles chemically to produce desired finishes
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. Vocational qualifications at level 2 and 3 in relevant areas, including metal and materials processing and finishing. are available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Metal casting, foundry and patternmaking technician (level 3). England. Typically 27 months. Skills England standard ST0566.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £32,871 a year The middle half earn £27,301 to null.
- About 22,600 people work in this job now, and about 22,300 are projected by 2035. (-1.6%)
Related jobs
- Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
- Textile process operatives
- Chemical and related process operatives
- Plastics process operatives
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Questions people ask
How do I become a metal making and treating process operative?
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. Vocational qualifications at level 2 and 3 in relevant areas, including metal and materials processing and finishing. are available.
How much does a metal making and treating process operative earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £32,871 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a metal making and treating process operative a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 22,600 people now and 22,300 later (Department for Education).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03