The latest bending machine, made by Panasonic Bendy Labs.

The object in need of bending is first placed carefully inside the bending chamber. Next, the bendometer dial is set between 1 and 11, with 1 producing a slight kink, and 11 curling it right around into an almost circular shape.



Once the big red button is pressed, the machine works in silence as it cleverly rearranges the object's molecules into a bent shape.

Brenda Saddleworth: patiently waiting for the invention of the straightening machine.

Bending machines are becoming more and more popular in Japan, though it's widely accepted that they could do with some help in the looks department....The machine is perfect for bending straight fruit which look better bent, such as bananas. More and more supermarkets are using the bending machine to repair their faulty fruit and veg.Here's an example of the wonders which the machine can work.....Recently, the machine even came in handy for Mao Asada, just prior to her appearance at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.She underwent a partial body insertion into the bending chamber, the effect of which was both stunning and eye-watering, and helped her towards her silver medal triumph. If only they'd turned the bendometer dial right up to 11 - then she may well have got the gold.It doesn't always work like clockwork, though. Poor Brenda Saddleworth recently fell inside the bending chamber and no one realised until it was too late....