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The best tech inventions of all time: Manufacturing marvels

1 of 11 NEXT PREV
  • Glass

    Glass

    Get a good beach fire going and melt some of the sand, a glass globule will appear from melted silica grains. Discovered 5000 years ago, glass has many uses. Gin and Tonic does not taste the same in earthenware cups.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Colinoob

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Smelting

    Smelting

    Smelting produces metal from rock ores using intense heat and chemicals leaving gases, slag and metal behind. Base metals like silver, iron and copper are produced this way.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Meditations

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Cast Iron

    Cast Iron

    Cast iron is melted pig iron. It has a low melting temperature and is easy to mould into shapes. It is good under compression, but brittle under tension.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Peggy Marco

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Float glass

    Float glass

    The technique of floating molten glass on a bed of molten tin was invented in the 1950s. It enabled large glass panes to be produced quickly, and very cheaply.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Michael Gaida

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Carbon fibre

    Carbon fibre

    Carbon fibre is strong and light fibre reinforced plastic. It has very high strength to weight ratio and can be rigid or flexible if required.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Onsite review

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Cyanide

    Cyanide

    Although a poison, cyanide is mainly produced for the extraction of gold and silver from their ores. The left over liquids are discarded in ponds which can result in environmental and health problems.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Mamamuki0

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Welding

    Welding

    Fusing base metals together at high heat forms a joint that is as strong or stronger than the base metal. Welds can be made from flame, electricity, electron beams and even friction.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Byrev

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Alloys

    Alloys

    An alloy is a mixture of metals or other elements. Steel, brass, pewter, and bronze are all alloys. Most coins are made from alloys. It would cost more to make a one cent coin from pure copper than the coin is worth.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Werner22Brigitte

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Light bulb

    Light bulb

    The light bulb was invented in the 1800s and billions are in use every day. Initially light bulbs were incandescent. Now fluorescent lights and LEDs are more popular due to their longer life.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Holdosi

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Stainless steel

    Stainless steel

    Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and chromium which does not readily corrode, is easy to clean and is resistant to acid attack. It is used in most industries and in every kitchen that has knives around.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Huney

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

  • Thermos flask

    Thermos flask

    A thermos flask is an insulating storage vessel with two flasks placed one within the other, a partial vacuum is created and the two flasks are sealed. Used to keep food hotter or colder for longer, journeys would not be the same without them.

    More tech inventions

    • Inventions that advanced civilization
    • Manufacturing marvels
    • Amazing medical innovations
    • Stunning science discoveries
    • Awesome machines
    • Mechanical inventions
    • Science advancements
    • Engineering marvels
    Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

    Photo by: Unsplash

    Caption by: Eileen Brown

1 of 11 NEXT PREV
  • Glass
  • Smelting
  • Cast Iron
  • Float glass
  • Carbon fibre
  • Cyanide
  • Welding
  • Alloys
  • Light bulb
  • Stainless steel
  • Thermos flask

In this series we take a look at things that have changed the way we work and enhanced our lives. In part eight we take a look at marvelous manufacturing innovations that have enabled us to advance our civilization.

Read More Read Less

Glass

Get a good beach fire going and melt some of the sand, a glass globule will appear from melted silica grains. Discovered 5000 years ago, glass has many uses. Gin and Tonic does not taste the same in earthenware cups.

More tech inventions

  • Inventions that advanced civilization
  • Manufacturing marvels
  • Amazing medical innovations
  • Stunning science discoveries
  • Awesome machines
  • Mechanical inventions
  • Science advancements
  • Engineering marvels
Published: December 15, 2016 -- 17:33 GMT (09:33 PST)

Caption by: Eileen Brown

1 of 11 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

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