Bradley Losper: Senior Fitter and Turner at Newsprint Namibia

Bradley Losper works as a Senior Technician at Newsprint Namibia and basically fulfils the role of a Fitter and Turner. Fitter and Turners manufacture, fit and assemble parts and components for a variety of machinery. They work with a range of materials including plastics and metals to make equipment and machinery and its parts. Fitter and Turners work from detailed drawings or specifications, and can use hand and mechanised tools.

“My duties as a technician at Newsprint are straightforward. I check if the machines work and if the technicians do their daily work. It is also required of me to check the oil of the machines and ensure maintenance is done,” Losper says.

He further explains that he loves his job because it is very hands-on. “The atmosphere at a printing press is great because we work in a very fast-paced environment and that definitely cancels out the negatives you might encounter. Seeing the news of the next day getting printed right before my eyes is definitely a highlight of my job,” he says.

“Yes, you do get dirty while you work but that does not mean the job is for men only. If you don’t mind having oil stuck under your nails for a short while during the day then you and don’t want to sit in an office the whole day, then this job is for ladies as well.”

Losper went to Windhoek Technical High School and says that the technical exposure he got at high school had an invaluable impact on his career choice. “Being at a technical school and constantly working with my hands encouraged me to go into this career. I obtained a three-year certificate from Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC) after school,” he says.

To be a Fitter and Turner it will be beneficial to enjoy working with your hands, have an interest in how machines work, and be able to think creatively about problems. Problem-solving abilities help when you need to fix machinery when it breaks.

Pull Quote:

“Yes, you do get dirty while you work but that does not mean the job is for men only. If you don’t mind having oil stuck under your nails for a short while during the day then you and don’t want to sit in an office the whole day, then this job is for ladies as well.”

A Fitter and Turner should:

· Enjoy working outside of a conventional office

· Be a hard working person

· Be able to identify and solve mechanical problems