Presser - Clothes

Also known as:

Clothes Presser

Introduction

Pressers work in clothing factories. They use steam presses to iron out wrinkles from fabric or garments. There are several types of pressing machines. Pressers may prepare the fabric for the next stage of manufacture or they may press finished clothes ready for packing.

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Work Activities

Pressers use pressure, steam and heat to remove wrinkles from fabric before and after it is made into a garment. They must also make sure the fabric or garment is the correct size.

There are first and second pressers.

The first presser takes a piece of fabric, or part of an unmade garment, and lays it out flat on the press, with no creases. A foot pedal is then used to release the steam that presses wrinkles and unevenness out of the material. After this pressing, the piece of fabric is measured and gently stretched if it is not the required size.

The second presser works with completed garments. The presser carefully puts the garment on the press, then releases the steam. Once again creases are removed and the garment adjusted to the correct size.

The presser must know about fabrics and materials and understand how they should be handled. Gentle handling is required when dealing with some man-made fibres to avoid visible finger marks.

Pressers must be able to judge the correct temperature and amount of steam required for the material being pressed.

There are several types of pressing machines including flat-bed steam presses, top and bottom bed presses, body shaped presses and conveyor presses that work in a continual cycle.

Most pressers are paid on piecework rates and work in steamy and hot conditions.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

Pressers need good hand skills and must be able to use their fingers lightly. The job involves a lot of standing and bending, so pressers must be fit and healthy.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Clothes pressers earn in the range of £200 - £210 a week, rising to around £290 a week.

Pressers usually work a basic 39-hour week, which may include early starts and shift work.

Employers are firms in the clothing industry, ranging from small family businesses to large companies with many staff.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Practical skills and abilities gained in the clothing manufacturing industry, using machinery, can be helpful.

• 37% of people in occupations such as presser work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 4% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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