Ep 46. CO2 Cartridges, Pretzels, Scissor Lifts, Skating Rinks

In season 4 episode 46 of How It's Made, viewers get an inside look at the production processes behind CO2 cartridges, pretzels, scissor lifts, and skating rinks.

The episode begins with a look at the production of CO2 cartridges, which are small metal cylinders used to power air guns, paintball guns, and bike tire inflation systems. The show takes viewers through each step of the manufacturing process, from shaping the cartridges to filling them with compressed carbon dioxide. The production of these cartridges requires precision machinery and high-level safety precautions, and viewers get a sense of the engineering and technology involved in creating these small, seemingly simple products.

Next, the show moves on to pretzels, a beloved snack food with a long history. Viewers get to see behind the scenes at a large-scale pretzel factory, where massive ovens bake the dough into the iconic twisted shape. The show walks viewers through each step of the process, from mixing the dough to adding the salt and sending the finished product through packaging and quality control. Along the way, viewers learn about the history of pretzels and how they came to be such a beloved snack food around the world.

The third segment of the episode explores scissor lifts, an essential piece of machinery used for construction and industrial work. The show takes viewers to a factory where scissor lifts are designed and built from scratch, showing the complex machinery and engineering required to make these lifts safe and reliable. Viewers get to see workers cutting and shaping metal, wiring electrical systems, and assembling the lifts piece by piece. Throughout the segment, the show highlights the importance of safety and quality control in the manufacture of these lifts.

Finally, the episode concludes with a segment on skating rinks, a fun and popular destination for people of all ages. Viewers get to see the process of building and maintaining a skating rink, from laying down the ice to adding the lines and logos that mark the surface. The show also explores the science behind creating the perfect ice surface for skating, including the equipment and techniques used to keep the ice smooth and consistent. Along the way, viewers learn about the history of ice skating and the cultural significance of skating rinks as social spaces.

Overall, How It's Made season 4 episode 46 provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the production processes behind four very different products. From the high-tech machinery used to make CO2 cartridges to the handcrafted precision required to create scissor lifts, viewers get to see how innovation, engineering, and technology come together to create the products we rely on every day.