Inside the Factory Season 4 Episode 1 Toilet Roll

Inside the Factory is back with its fourth season, giving viewers an exclusive look at the inner workings of Britain’s best-known factories. In the first episode of the season, titled Toilet Roll, the team heads to a factory in the north of England to learn how the humble roll of paper is transformed into one of life's most essential household items.

The episode opens with a brief history lesson on toilet roll, revealing that it wasn't until the late 19th century that it became readily available to the public. The show's presenter, Gregg Wallace, then takes us inside the factory to see exactly how toilet roll is made. He starts off by exploring the factory's vast warehouse, which stores huge quantities of the raw material needed to make toilet roll - wood pulp.

We learn that wood pulp is made from trees, and the factory sources its wood from sustainable forests in Scandinavia. The trees are harvested, stripped of their bark, and turned into logs, which are then transported to the factory. We follow the logs as they're fed into a huge machine called a debarker, which removes the bark and prepares the wood for pulping.

Next, Gregg meets the factory's resident chemist, who explains how the wood is broken down into cellulose fibers using a chemical process. The fibers are then mixed with water to create a slurry, which is poured onto a large flat screen. The screen drains away the water, leaving behind a damp sheet of cellulose fibers.

The sheet is then pressed and dried, before being wound onto huge rolls. These rolls are then transported to another part of the factory, where they're cut into smaller sheets and turned into toilet roll.

Gregg explains that there are two main types of toilet roll - two-ply and three-ply. Two-ply toilet paper is made by layering two sheets of toilet paper on top of each other, while three-ply toilet paper is made by layering three sheets. He watches as the sheets of toilet paper are fed into a machine that cuts them into smaller squares and then perforates them to make it easier for us to tear off individual sheets.

The finished product is then wrapped in plastic packaging and boxed up ready for distribution to supermarkets and other retailers around the country. We learn that the factory produces thousands of rolls of toilet paper every day, and that it's always working to find ways to make the process more efficient and sustainable.

Throughout the episode, we hear from various workers at the factory, who explain what it's like to work on the production line and the challenges they face in meeting demand for toilet roll. We also get a glimpse of the factory's cafeteria, where workers enjoy a range of meals and snacks, including a popular dish of pie and peas.

Overall, the Toilet Roll episode of Inside the Factory offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the manufacturing process behind one of life's most essential household items. It's informative, entertaining, and packed with interesting insights and facts. Whether you're a toilet roll connoisseur or simply curious about how the things we use every day come to be, this episode is well worth a watch.