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Line X Specialist at Time Manufacturing in Bethlehem, PA
Job Description
Line X Specialist
Full Time · Location: Bethlehem, PA, US
Job Title: Line X Specialist
Reports To: Production Manager
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Company: TIME Manufacturing Company
Shift: 6:00am - 4:30pm Monday to Thursday (Overtime worked as needed)
Company Overview
TIME Manufacturing Company is a leading global manufacturer of vehicle-mounted aerial lifts, digger derricks, bucket trucks, and bridge inspection equipment. Through its renowned brands—Versalift, Ruthmann, Bluelift, France Elévateur, Movex, BrandFX, and Aspen Aerials—the company serves diverse industries, including electric utility, telecommunications, bridge inspection, tree care, and other fleet-supported sectors. With a strong commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, TIME Manufacturing Company designs and manufactures top-tier products that enable professionals to operate safely and efficiently at various heights.
Job Summary
The LINE-X Coating Specialist is responsible for the technical preparation and application of protective polyurea/polyurethane coatings to utility truck service bodies, structural chassis components, and Versalift aerial lift assemblies. This role bridges precision manufacturing with heavy industrial protective coatings. The specialist ensures that high-wear areas, operator platforms, and utility compartments are fortified against severe mechanical abrasion, chemical corrosion, and environmental degradation, directly affecting the operational lifespan and safety of specialized fleet vehicles.
Key Responsibilities
Substrate Preparation & Conditioning (35% of Time)
- Mechanical Abrasion: Operate industrial media blasters, pneumatic grinders, and dual-action (DA) sanders to profile raw steel, aluminum, and fiberglass to achieving the specified surface profile (typically 2.0–3.0 mils).
- Chemical Decontamination: Apply solvent degreasers and surface chemical neutralizers to remove manufacturing oils, rust inhibitors, welding slag, and fingerprints.
- Adhesion Promotion: Apply specialized primers (e.g., LINE-X XPM primer or similar multi-surface primers) tailored to specific substrates, maintaining strict flash-off time constraints before coating application.
High-Precision Component Masking (25% of Time)
- Critical Component Isolation: Identify and completely mask sensitive non-coating zones unique to Versalift aerial equipment, including hydraulic cylinder rods, control valves, electrical wire harnesses, pivot pins, rotation bearings, and safety decals.
- Fiberglass Boom Care: Execute specialized masking protocols for dielectric fiberglass boom sections to ensure coatings do not compromise the truck’s electrical isolation or structural certifications.
- Edge Definition: Use specialized wire-tapes (Trim Fast or similar) to establish clean, razor-sharp termination lines that prevent peeling at high-stress seams.
Chemical Application & Spray Operations (25% of Time)
- Equipment Calibration: Configure and operate high-pressure, heated, plural-component proportioning pumps (e.g., Graco Reactor series). Monitor and log precise chemical temperatures (typically 140°F–150°F) and fluid pressures (typically 2,000–2,500 PSI).
- Thickness & Texture Control: Apply A-side (isocyanate) and B-side (resin) formulas dynamically at the spray gun tip, achieving uniform mil thickness specifications (ranging from 60 mils for light-wear panels up to 125+ mils for high-impact operator platforms).
- Non-Skid Engineering: Spray custom coarse texture finishes on steps, grab handles, and platform floors to meet OSHA and ANSI non-slip safety requirements for utility work environments.
Equipment Maintenance & Shop Safety (15% of Time)
- Daily Fluid Maintenance: Flush, clean, and rebuild mechanical-purge or air-purge spray guns (e.g., Fusion AP or GX-7). Perform daily checkups on pump seals, desiccant air dryers, and heated hose lines.
- Compliance & Log Keeping: Maintain daily chemical batch logs, temperature/humidity sheets, and VOC emission tracking sheets in alignment with environmental regulations.
- Safety Protocols: Maintain a pristine spray booth environment. Safely store bulk chemicals, manage hazardous waste disposal, and always operate within fresh-air supplied respirator hood systems.
Qualifications - Required Technical Competencies
- Plural-Component Systems: Deep operational knowledge of heated, high-pressure proportioning machinery and ratio-monitoring mechanics (1:1 volumetric mix ratio tracking).
- Substrate Knowledge: Thorough understanding of how chemical cross-linking behaves differently across structural steel, diamond plate aluminum, and reinforced fiberglass composite surfaces.
- Measurement Accuracy: Proficiency utilizing wet-film thickness gauges and dry-film magnetic thickness gauges to verify coating compliance on the fly.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
- Environmental Exposure: Continuous work inside an industrial spray booth environment with exposure to chemical vapors, high-decibel noise, and dust.
- Protective Gear Wearability: Required to work long durations while wearing full-body Tyvek protective suits, heavy chemical gloves, and air-supplied respirator systems.
- Physical Postures: Regular kneeling, bending, overhead reaching, and climbing on ladders or truck chassis to access recessed areas of large utility truck service bodies. Lifting capacities up to 50 lbs unassisted are required.
Technical Skills
- Properly prepare surfaces (cleaning, sanding, masking, and priming).
- Operate plural-component spray equipment.
- Mix and apply polyurea/polyurethane coatings according to specifications.
- Control coating thickness and finish quality.
- Understand curing times, temperature, and humidity effects on coating performance.
Experience Requirements
- 3+ years of industrial coating, automotive refinishing, bedliner, or polyurea spray experience.
- Ability to read product data sheets and application specifications.
- Experience with coating inspection and quality control.
Core Benefits
- Competitive salary and bonus structure
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and holidays
- Professional development opportunities
- Collaborative and innovative work environment
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
Time Manufacturing Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
6:00 - 4:30pm Monday to Thursday. (Overtime worked as needed)