What You'll Do

  • Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.
  • Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms.
  • Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications.
  • Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated.
  • Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.
  • Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling.
  • Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal.
  • Add metal to molds to compensate for shrinkage.
  • Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights.
  • Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.12/5
Operation and Control 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0/5
Coordination 2.88/5
Quality Control Analysis 2.88/5
Time Management 2.88/5
Reading Comprehension 2.75/5
Speaking 2.75/5
Equipment Maintenance 2.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Dependability, Initiative, Attention to Detail, Self-Control, Cooperation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.75/5
Manual Dexterity 3.5/5
Control Precision 3.5/5
Perceptual Speed 3.12/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.12/5
Reaction Time 3.12/5
Near Vision 3.12/5
Oral Comprehension 3.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Husky Injection Molding Systems Shotscope NX Microsoft Excel Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.24/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.19/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.1/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 3.8/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.79/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aluminum Pourer Billet Header Brass Pourer Buggy Ladle Tender Bull Ladle Tender Busher Caster Casting Machine Operator Casting Operator DC Caster (Direct Chill Caster) DCO (Die Cast Operator) Die Cast Machine Operator Die Casting Machine Operator Header Ingot Caster Ingot Header Iron Pourer Ladle Car Operator Ladle Filler Ladle Operator Ladle Pourer Ladle Puller Ladleman Ladler Melter Metal Handler Molten Iron Pourer Pourer Steel Pourer Third Steel Pourer Tin Pourer White Metal Caster