IF YOU dream of building your own skateboard, robot or even house you may soon be able to make your ideas and inventions a reality.
This September, a digital fabrication laboratory, or ‘Fab Lab’, on Whitby Road will open its doors to the public.
Giving people access to a range of cutting-edge manufacturing technology, the Fab Lab will allow budding entrepreneurs, small businesses, young people and community groups to design and make everything from electronics and 3D scale models to games, gifts and artwork.
Fab Lab Ellesmere Port will become part of a network of 150 similar facilities across the world, linked digitally to allow users to collaborate with others as far afield as Ghana and Afghanistan.
Over the summer residents will be able to get a taste of what’s on offer with a number of interactive events planned ahead of the Lab’s official opening.
Fab Lab Ellesmere Port is a partnership between The Manufacturing Institute, Cheshire West and Chester Council, the Ellesmere Port Development Board and Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership. It is one of only seven Fab Labs in the UK.
Chris Wilkinson, managing director for the UK Fab Lab Foundation at The Manufacturing Institute, which has led the development of Fab Lab Ellesmere Port, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Fab Lab to Ellesmere Port. This exciting new development will mean real benefits for the town and surrounding area, putting it on the map for innovation.”
The Lab is also searching for a local community champion to manage the facility when it officially opens in September. Anyone interested should visit www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk/jobs for more details.
