All Seasons

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

  • S04E01 Panama Canal, Processing Rubbish

    • August 16, 2010
    • Channel 5

    - Shipping in the Panama Canal - Processing Rubbish in San Fransisco

  • S04E02 Ceramic Knives, Man Made Diamonds, Bricks

    • August 23, 2010
    • Channel 5

    - Ceramic Knives - Man Made Diamonds - Bricks

  • S04E03 Power Supply, Seagoing Cranes

    • September 6, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert takes a look at the world's biggest floating crane and learns how electricity is supplied to people's homes.

  • S04E04 Las Vegas Water Supply, Large TV, Ferrari 612

    • September 13, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert reveals how Las Vegas is supplied with clean water, how the world's largest outdoor television was made, and how Ferrari constructed a four-seat supercar.

  • S04E05 Mining Coal, 24hr. Mail Delivery

    • September 20, 2010
    • Channel 5

    This week Robert shows us the fascinating workings of a large-scale coal mine, and demonstrates how packages can be delivered across continents within a single day.

  • S04E06 Paper Cartons, Tree Farming, Ambulances

    • September 27, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn explores the design and manufacture of paper cartons used to hold liquid, following the process from the felling of trees in Sweden to the worldwide distribution of the product. He learns about the revolutionary construction technique pioneered by German company Huf Haus, and examines a new ambulance specially designed to house a range of hi-tech medical equipment

  • S04E07 Satnav, Aluminium Foil

    • October 4, 2010
    • Channel 5

    This week Robert looks at Global Positioning system and one of it's biggest uses, in car Satnav. The ins and outs of Aluminium Foil is also featured.

  • S04E08 Wool Fleece, Lego

    • October 11, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn finds out how a wool factory in Devon processes 10 million fleeces every year, and how a Danish company makes the world's most famous plastic brick.

  • S04E09 Container Ships, Peterbilt Trucks

    • October 18, 2010
    • Channel 5

    This time Robert focuses on two transportation giants - the largest container ship in the world, the Estelle Maersk, and a classic amongst American trucks, the Peterbilt.

  • S04E10 Space Shuttle, Binoculars, Windscreen Wipers

    • October 20, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert looks at the fascinating technology behind space shuttle launches, precision binocular lenses and windscreen wipers.

  • S04E11 Sedco 706 Drilling Platform, Electric Shavers

    • October 25, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn focuses on the process of moving the 11,000-ton Sedco 706 drilling platform 14,000km from Scotland to Singapore, and explores the methods by which the latest electric shavers are produced

  • S04E12 Halogen Light Bulbs, Locks, Car Exhausts

    • October 27, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn examines the complicated manufacturing process behind halogen light bulbs and cylinder locks, and also investigates how engineers make car engines run at an acceptable volume

  • S04E13 Aircraft, Chainsaws

    • November 1, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert focuses on the construction of one of the world's most common passenger airliners, and examines the engineering behind a modern chainsaw.

  • S04E14 Mirrors, Flexible Signage

    • November 8, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert looks at the complex procedures involved in manufacturing mirrors and vehicle wrapping

  • S04E15 Jeans, Wine Glasses

    • November 15, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Documentary series in which Robert Llewellyn examines the feats of science and engineering behind everyday life. Robert explores how a billion pairs of jeans are made a year, and how sand is turned into the finest wine glasses.

  • S04E16 Freeways, Minting Coins

    • November 22, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert examines how an American freeway handles a quarter of a million cars a day, and explores the process of minting the new American one dollar coin.

  • S04E17 High Speed Trains, Ballpoint Pens

    • November 29, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn finds out about the construction of high-speed train networks, meeting engineers at the Siemens factory in Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany, who explain how the use of small electric engines located under the carriage floors helps trains to maintain speed on steep inclines. He also investigates the manufacturing process behind ballpoint pens.

  • S04E18 Hydroelectric Dams & Silicon Chips

    • December 6, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn learns about the large rock-filled dam at El Cajon dam in western Mexico, where almost five billion cubic metres of water is used to generate electricity. He also investigates the process of fitting tiny transistors onto microchips, discovering that an ultra-clean facility is necessary to minimise dust in the air.

  • S04E19 Oil Refinery, Swiss Army Knife

    • December 13, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn finds out that although the bulk of the world's oil comes from the Middle East, more than 200,000 barrels are produced each day in Texas, and he explores the production process at a vast refinery outside Houston. Plus, a report on how the Swiss Army knife is made.

  • S04E20 Weather Forecasting, Hovercraft

    • December 20, 2010
    • Channel 5

    This week Robert looks at how the weather is forecast and how they build hovercrafts.

Season 5

  • S05E01 Blue Angels, Artificial Snow, Sushi

    • January 4, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn explores how the Blue Angels flying team performs breathtaking stunts at breakneck speeds, and discovers the techniques used to keep a ski slope cold in the middle of the desert. He also examines the skill of chefs who prepare some of the world's finest sushi

  • S05E02 Scuttling Ships, Earthquake Proofing Buildings

    • January 10, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Explosives experts prepare to sink out-of-service warship the USS General Hoyt S Vandenberg, to create a new wreck site for divers. Plus, Robert Llewellyn finds out how engineers have installed revolutionary bearings in the foundations of San Francisco buildings, allowing them to move during earthquakes

  • S05E03 Recycling Paper, Plug-in Hybrid Cars

    • January 17, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn investigates the process of turning waste paper into glossy magazines at the Leipa mill in Schwedt, Germany. He also finds out how plug-in hybrid sports car the Fisker Karma's design means it can reach 125mph while barely burning any petrol

  • S05E04 Car Building Robots, Cork, Water Desalination

    • January 20, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn learns about the robots used to build cars, investigates how bottles are sealed using tree bark and reveals the process behind making sea water drinkable.

  • S05E05 Solar Power, Transition Lenses, Aircraft Recovery

    • January 24, 2010
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn reveals how the power of the sun is harnessed to generate electricity, and explores the manufacturing process behind colour-changing lenses. He also examines how a falling aircraft can be caught with a parachute

  • S05E06 Cowboy Hats, Deep Dea Diving, Airline Food

    • January 27, 2011
    • Channel 5

    This episode features information on how a classic cowboy hat is fashioned, how deep-sea workers train for their hazardous jobs and how airline food is manufactured and delivered.

  • S05E07 Stainless Steel, Triumph Rocket III, Paper Production

    • January 31, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn finds out how iron is turned into stainless steel with the addition of chromium, and explores the construction process of the world's biggest production bike, the Triumph Rocket III. He also investigates how trees in the dense eucalyptus forests of Quinta da Cruz in Portugal are turned into paper.

  • S05E08 Underground Railways, Satellites, Fresh Flowers

    • February 7, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn explores the construction of an underground railway in the South African city of Johannesburg, and finds out how small observation satellites built in Surrey are used by relief agencies to get an instant picture of natural disasters. Plus, the transportation of freshly cut flowers around the world.

  • S05E09 Large Aquarium, Making Sapphire, Bentlys

    • February 14, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert explores how the world's biggest sharks are looked after at the world's largest aquarium, how luxury cars are made and how the world's toughest glass is manufactured.

  • S05E10 Satellites , Ship Maintenance, Stretched Limos

    • February 21, 2011
    • Channel 5

    In this episode we learn how NASA operates its large satellites, how a huge oil tanker is docked, and how stretch limousines are created.

  • S05E11 Batteries, Artificial island, Creating Perfumes

    • March 5, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert looks at the secrets behind some of the world's most expensive perfumes, the genius recycling solution invented to solve Singapore's waste and overcrowding problems, and how salty sea water can be turned into a source of power.

  • S05E12 Jumbo Garage, Nuclear Power, Pianos

    • March 7, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert learns how passenger jets complete thousands of successful journeys every year when he visits a state-of-the-art engineering facility in Dubai. He scopes out one of the world's biggest nuclear power stations. And art meets science at the Steinway factory, as the mechanics of the grand piano go under the microscope.

  • S05E13 Power from Waste, Customize Supercars, Super Steel Swords

    • March 14, 2011
    • Channel 5

    We learn how rubbish is turned into electricity, how the world's fastest street car is produced, and how some of the world's sharpest swords are constructed.

  • S05E14 Propellers, Hybrid Magnet, Crash Response System

    • March 21, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn finds out how a company in the Netherlands manufactures some of the world's largest propellers. He learns about the maintenance of the two-storey hybrid magnet at Florida State University, which weighs more than 31 tons, and explores a new automatic crash-response system developed for use in cars

  • S05E15 Container Port, Oil Recovery, Storing Films

    • March 28, 2011
    • Channel 5

    Robert Llewellyn finds out how Singapore - one of the world's busiest container ports - handles up to 1,000 ships a day. He also discovers the process used to mine oil reserves beneath the Canadian wilderness, and explores the challenge faced by the British Film Institute in safely storing reels of flammable film stock from the early days of cinema.

  • S05E16 Mega Hotels, Lasers, Desert Golf

    • April 4, 2011
    • Channel 5

  • S05E17 Orange Juice, Bending Glass, Solid Rock

    • April 11, 2011
    • Channel 5

  • S05E18 Work in 600-degree Heat, Make Champagne, Expand Ports

    • April 18, 2011
    • Channel 5

  • S05E19 G Suits, Smart Grid, Vehicle Slowdown

    • May 9, 2011
    • Channel 5

  • S05E20 Military helicopters, Metro systems, Engineering artificial reefs

    • May 16, 2011
    • Channel 5

Season 6

Season 7

  • S07E01 Underground Mines/Shotguns

    • Channel 5

    The working processes of America's largest mine, and how made-to-measure shotguns are manufactured

  • S07E02 Diggers, Taste of the Orient and Into the Void

    • Channel 5

    Examining the operation of versatile construction machines, how beans are turned into sauce, and the processes involved in maintaining the Willis Tower Skydeck in Chicago

  • S07E03 Peanut Butter, Breaking Points

    • Channel 5

    The technological processes involved in manufacturing peanut butter, and how domestic appliances are tested

  • S07E04 Marble/Tabasco Sauce/Umbrellas

    • Channel 5

    The mining of the marble used in Washington DC's monuments, and the manufacture of Tabasco sauce and storm-proof umbrellas

  • S07E05 Irish Stout, Silk and Canned Soup

    • Channel 5

    Examining the production of Irish stout, the use of silkworms to make gunpowder bags and clothes, and how soup is put into cans

  • S07E06 Fire extinguisher, cruise liner

    • Channel 5

    Examining how phosphates are used to put out fires, and the processes involved in refuelling and resupplying cruise liners

  • S07E07 Airplane Tires; Six Shooters; Artificial Turf

    • Channel 5

    Examining how aeroplane tyres find grip, the processes involved in laying artificial turf, and how the fastest gun in the west is fired

  • S07E08 Sponges, the Knowledge

    • Channel 5

    Examining the technology used to dive for natural sponges, and how taxi drivers know their way to so many different destinations

  • S07E09 Crash Testing, Books, Margarine

    • Channel 5

    How cars absorb the impact of a crash, the processes involved in printing a blockbuster, and how vegetable oil is used to make spread

  • S07E10 Whisky/Disaster Prevention

    • Channel 5

    The processes involved in turning water into whisky, and the preparations that are being made for another natural disaster on the scale of Hurricane Katrina

  • S07E11 Sugar/Suits/Fish Farming

    • Channel 5

    Exploring how fish are farmed, raw cane is turned into sugar, and how suits are tailored in just one day

  • S07E12 Car Batteries; Chocolate; Toothbrushes

    • Channel 5

    Converting sulphuric acid and lead into 100 million car batteries; turning cacao beans into bars of chocolate; how toothbrushes clean our teeth.

  • S07E13 Money/Shoe-In

    • Channel 5

    The complex technological processes involved in creating banknotes, and how leather hide is turned into a pair of shoes

  • S07E14 Eiffel Tower/Snowboards

    • Channel 5

    The complex processes involved in maintaining the Eiffel Tower, and how chrome is polished to make it extra shiny

  • S07E15 Decaf Coffee / Smoked Fish / Water Jets

    • Channel 5

    An exploration of how water is harnessed to power ships, the creation of decaffeinated coffee from beans, and the production of smoked fish

  • S07E16 Blaze Cops, Oaked Wine

    • Channel 5

    Exploring how investigators establish the causes of fires, and the importance of oak barrels in traditional French winemaking

  • S07E17 Producing wine; Investigating fires

    • Channel 5

    Examining how oak trees are used in the production of wine, and the processes involved in investigating the causes of fires

  • S07E18 Bread; lawnmowers

    • Channel 5

    How the price of bread is set, the production of speedy lawnmowers, and how coconuts clean water

  • S07E19 Chrome/Matches

    • Channel 5

    The processes involved in turning trees into matches, and how chrome is polished to make it extra shiny

  • S07E20 Off-Road; Western saddles; flour & cakes

    • Channel 5

    The complex technological processes involved in making off-road vehicles, the best way to stay on a bucking bronco, and how flour is used when making cakes