How It's Made

E1. Aluminum Foil, Snowboards, Contact Lenses, Bread

The series premiere follows the transformation of aluminum into extremely thin household foil, the layered construction and finishing of snowboards, the precision molding of soft contact lenses, and the mixing, proofing and baking of commercial bread.

★ 8.5

E2. Compact Discs, Mozzarella Cheese, Pantyhose, Fluorescent Tubes

Manufacturing processes include encoding and molding compact discs, turning milk into mozzarella cheese, knitting exceptionally fine synthetic fibers into pantyhose, and assembling fluorescent tubes with phosphor coatings, electrodes and gas.

★ 8.3

E3. Toothpicks, Acrylic Bathtubs, Helicopters, Beer

The episode demonstrates how timber is sliced and shaped into toothpicks, acrylic sheets are heated and vacuum-formed into bathtubs, helicopters are assembled and tested, and grain, hops, yeast and water are brewed into beer.

★ 8.7

E4. Hearing Aids, 3D Puzzles, Rubber Mats, Toilets

Miniature electronic components are fitted into custom hearing aids, printed designs are cut and assembled into three-dimensional puzzles, rubber is processed into durable floor mats, and vitreous china is molded, glazed and fired to produce toilets.

★ 9.0

E5. Copy Paper, Jeans, Computers, Plate Glass

Wood pulp is refined and rolled into copy paper, denim is cut and sewn into jeans, electronic components are installed and tested in personal computers, and molten raw materials are formed into smooth sheets of plate glass.

★ 9.0

E6. Nails and Staples, Safety Glasses, Fabrics, Bicycles

Steel wire is cut and shaped into nails and staples, impact-resistant lenses and frames become safety glasses, yarn is woven or knitted into fabric, and bicycle frames and components are assembled into finished cycles.

★ 9.0