Gallery: How a Playmobil Factory Pumps Out 100 Million Tiny People a Year

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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    01

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    A machine resembling a sea monster draws plastic granules from the storage vats and sends them through the factory to the injection molding machines.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    02

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    Plastic granules.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    03

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    Giant vats hold the plastic granules.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    04

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    Workers dye white plastic granules for special colors. These trash cans hold the dyes.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    05

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    Thousands of hairless, disembodied, smiling heads.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    06

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    A top-down view shows legs being made in the injection molding machine.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    07

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    The factory floor is covered with injection molding machines.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    08

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    Small stamps affixed to the printer create patterns in clothing and other designs.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    09

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    Legs for "Swimmer" figures are processed to be joined together—left leg with right leg with swimming trunks.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    10

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    The printing area.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    11

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    Completed figures.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    12

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    A worker packages the figures.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    13

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    The corridors of the factory are lined with gray plastic tubs filled with arms and legs, categorized according to their kind.
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    Alastair Philip Wiper
    14

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    Boxes ready to be shipped
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