Industrial painters, Coaters and Metal Finishing Process Operators are important in production and post-production of manufactured goods.

They use automatic and manual machines, as well as hand operated tools in order to apply paint, enamel lacquer, metal or other protective, restorative and decorative coatings to products. FOCAL forecasts a strong labour market for painters, coaters, and finishing process operators with 680 job openings within the automotive sector over the next decade.

Where do Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishers work?

What do Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishers do?

Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishing processors perform tasks on manufactured metal and other components and structures. The solutions they apply can have benefits beyond simple cosmetics, and can change the properties of the material they coat, such as galvanizing or electroplating to reduce rust, and increase or decrease electric conductivity. These processes can increase manufacturing sustainability by improving product life, and reducing production waste and material use.

• Operate or tend equipment to clean, wash, strip, sand, remove corrosion, fill dents or otherwise prepare items for application of paint, lacquer or other protective or decorative coatings
• Prepare and mix metallizing and paint solutions according to formulas or specifications
• Operate or tend automated spray paint, dip or flow coating equipment or other mechanized painting or product coating application equipment

Career pathways & potential earnings of Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishers

Industrial Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishing Process Operators can progress into senior management and executive roles with adequate experience and knowledge:

Industrial Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishing Process Operators can also apply their skills and expertise in other occupations such as the following:

• Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters
• Foundry workers
• Textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers

How do I become a Painter, Coater or Metal Finisher?

There are several educational, licensing and training requirements to become a Tool and Die Maker. Some requirements may vary by province or company. Below are the most commonly required qualifications to work as a Tool and Die Maker:

• Minimum Education: Some secondary school education usually required.
• Training and other requirements: Certain sectors may require industrial painters to have specialized training or take courses in industrial painting, such as aviation painters and finishers. Prior experience in operation of production machinery or equipment may be required.

What are the most important skills to have as a Painter, Coater or Metal Finisher?

Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishing Processors require the physical skill set to operate machinery and tools, such as manual dexterity, but have a knowledge base in chemistry and design for the processes they perform which are unique to their trade, such as electroplating and solution mixing.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Production and Processing
• Design
• Chemistry
• Operations Control and Monitoring
• Quality Control Analysis

Soft Skills

• Visual Colour Discrimination
• Manual Dexterity
• Information Ordering
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Selective Attention
• Visualization

Future of Painter, Coater and Metal Finisher jobs in Canada

The employment prospects for Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishers is positive. In 2021, more than 13,500 were employed across Canada’s sectors and industries. FOCAL projects more than 680 job openings for mechanical and metal trade supervisors in Canada’s automotive manufacturing sector between 2021 and 2030, over 500 of which will require new hires to fill the projected recruitment gap.

Learn more about the job market for Industrial Painters, Coaters and Metal Finishing Process Operators, as well as about many other developments and new technologies in Canada’s automotive manufacturing by visiting our website futureautolabourforce.ca. You can also check our social media by following these links: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.