Michael Holigan: This computer-driven machine is cutting and punching a section of sheet metal that's going to be a basic part of a common household appliance that's found in almost every home in America. Can you guess what it is? It's a refrigerator. We're going to go back to that factory in LaVergne, Tennessee, where KitchenAid is building this exact refrigerator. You're going to see step-by-step how they go together and what the important points you need to watch for are when you pick out your next refrigerator because you're probably going to have it in your kitchen for at least 20 years. It all starts with this giant machine called a Salvagnini machine in a totally automated process. The machine takes raw sheet metal that's been cut into squares and transforms it into all the parts that make up the outer cabinet of the refrigerator. When the machine is done, all the pieces of the refrigerator are ready for assembly, and the cabinet begins to take shape.

All the openings and cracks are sealed, and the cabinet is prepared for the interior liner. On a side assembly line, the liners for the inside of the refrigerator and freezer are also built from scratch. The liners are formed and sealed, and as they get to the end of this line, they are ready to put into the cabinet. Now it's time to begin assembling the rest of the refrigerator. The shelving brackets and braces go in. The condenser is prepared and the sealed refrigeration system is assembled and mounted on top. On another production line the doors are being assembled, and the door hinge assembly is built. The doors are now easily attached to the unit. All that's left to do now is box it up and send it off and possibly to build it into your new house.

I'm Michael Holigan - About the House.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
KitchenAid
1-800-422-1230