About Vebro Polymers
Vebro Polymers is a leading manufacturer of high-performance resin flooring systems, supplying industrial, commercial and specialist flooring solutions throughout the UK and Europe.
Our product portfolio includes epoxy, polyurethane, polyaspartic, MMA and cementitious polyurethane flooring systems, developed to provide durable and innovative flooring solutions across a wide range of market sectors.
As our business continues to grow, we are investing in our technical capabilities and laboratory facilities to support increased manufacturing capacity, product innovation and quality assurance.
We are looking for a motivated Laboratory & Quality Technician who is excited by the opportunity to help build and develop our Quality Control laboratory whilst supporting R&D and new product development and manufacturing operations.
Role Purpose
The Laboratory & Quality Technician will provide laboratory support across Quality Control, R&D, and Manufacturing.
This is a varied and hands-on role that combines routine laboratory testing with product development, manufacturing support and continuous improvement activities.
A key objective of the role will be to work alongside the Technical Director to establish and develop a robust Quality Control laboratory and testing programme that supports the company's continued growth.
The successful candidate will play an important role in implementing laboratory procedures, developing quality standards and introducing new laboratory equipment, helping to create a modern laboratory that supports world-class manufacturing.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Control
- Carry out Quality Control testing on manufactured products prior to release
- Perform routine testing including density, viscosity, colour, gloss, appearance, drawdowns, cure assessment, pot life, and hardness
- Assess production batches against product specifications
- Record and report QC results
- Release compliant products for dispatch
- Quarantine and investigate non-conforming batches
- Produce Certificates of Analysis where required
- Maintain retained samples for all production batches
Quality Control Development
One of the primary responsibilities of this position will be assisting in the development and implementation of Vebro's Quality Control laboratory.
Responsibilities include:
- Establish Quality Control procedures across all manufactured products
- Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for laboratory testing
- Develop product-specific quality specifications
- Define batch acceptance criteria
- Assist in selecting and commissioning new laboratory equipment
- Develop laboratory testing schedules
- Implement calibration procedures
- Create Certificates of Analysis
- Develop retained sample procedures
- Assist with supplier quality assessments
- Investigate product non-conformances
- Assist in customer complaint investigations
- Monitor manufacturing consistency through QC trend analysis
- Support integration of QC data into the company's ERP system
R&D and Product Development
Support the Technical Team with:
- Laboratory formulation work
- Mixing laboratory trial batches
- Product benchmarking
- Raw material evaluations
- Product improvements
- Cost reduction projects
- New product development
- Scale-up from laboratory to production
- Technical reports
- Preparation of product test panels
Products include:
- Epoxy flooring systems
- Polyurethane flooring systems
- Polyaspartic coatings
- MMA flooring systems
- Cementitious polyurethane systems
- Primers
- Sealers
- Repair mortars
Manufacturing Support
Provide technical support to production including:
- Batch adjustments
- Troubleshooting manufacturing issues
- Raw material assessments
- Investigation of production problems
- Support during new product introductions
- Trial manufacturing
- Process improvement initiatives
Laboratory Management
Maintain an efficient, organised and safe laboratory environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Equipment calibration
- Equipment maintenance
- Chemical inventory control
- Laboratory housekeeping
- COSHH documentation
- Waste disposal
- Sample management
- Stock control of laboratory consumables
- Laboratory Health & Safety
- Planning future laboratory equipment purchases
- Continuous improvement of laboratory layout and workflow
Quality Systems
Support the company's Quality Management System through:
- ISO9001 compliance
- Internal audits
- Calibration records
- Laboratory documentation
- Controlled documents
- Quality records
- SOP management
- Continuous improvement
- Root Cause Analysis
- Supplier Quality Assurance
Continuous Improvement
Actively contribute towards:
- Developing a modern QC laboratory
- Improving manufacturing consistency
- Reducing production variation
- Improving Right First Time manufacturing
- Lean laboratory practices
- Digital laboratory records
- ERP integration
- Process optimisation
- Reduction in manufacturing waste
- Increased laboratory efficiency
Essential Skills & Experience
- HNC/HND, Degree or equivalent qualification in Chemistry, Materials Science or related scientific discipline
- Practical laboratory experience
- Excellent organisational skills
- Good attention to detail
- Strong numerical skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- IT literate with Microsoft Office
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Desirable Experience
Experience within one or more of the following industries:
- Paints & Coatings
- Industrial Flooring
- Construction Chemicals
- Adhesives
- Sealants
- Composites
- Polymers
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Colour matching
Knowledge of:
- Epoxy chemistry
- Polyurethane chemistry
- Polyaspartic coatings
- Laboratory QC testing
- ISO9001
- Root Cause Analysis
- Statistical Process Control
- Lean Manufacturing
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be:
- Methodical
- Organised
- Curious
- Practical
- Self-motivated
- Hands-on
- Enthusiastic
- Reliable
- A logical problem solver
- Able to work under pressure
- Comfortable working in both laboratory and manufacturing environments
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance will be measured against:
Quality Control
- Batch release turnaround time
- Accuracy of QC testing
- Number of production batches tested
- Reduction in manufacturing non-conformances
- Reduction in customer complaints
Laboratory Development
- Number of QC procedures implemented
- Completion of laboratory SOPs
- Successful commissioning of new laboratory equipment
- Calibration compliance
- Development of product specifications
- Implementation of retained sample system
Product Development
- Number of laboratory trials completed
- Successful scale-up of new products
- Technical reports completed
- Support provided to manufacturing
Continuous Improvement
- Laboratory improvements implemented
- Process improvements delivered
- Manufacturing efficiencies identified
- Contribution towards ISO9001 compliance
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- Company pension
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Opportunity to work on innovative coating technologies
- Career progression opportunities
- Supportive and collaborative working culture
- Opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of our Technical Department
Career Development
This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing business at an exciting stage of its development.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to take ownership of the Quality Control laboratory, work on innovative product development projects and develop into a senior technical role as the business continues to grow.
Pay: £32,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person