A new industrial revolution underway in Ellesmere Port  could transform traditional manufacturing.

That’s the view of Dr Julie Madigan,  the chief executive of The  Manufacturing Institute.

Dr Madigan said: “A quiet revolution  involving a move towards  boutique  manufacturing  is taking  place in  Ellesmere Port and points the  way forward for the rest of the UK.

“Manufacturing specialists working   in factories no longer have a monopoly   on production.

“Technological developments are  empowering people of all  ages and  from all walks of life to design  and  make things.”

She will be sharing her vision  of the  future of manufacturing with a distinguished audience at  the  RSA (Royal  Society for the encouragement of Arts,  Manufactures and Commerce) 2013  President's Lecture, in London,  on  Thursday, September 19.

The Manufacturing Institute has recently opened a Fab Lab (digital fabrication laboratory) on Whitby Road in  Ellesmere Port, which is  unlocking the  ability of garden shed tinkerers to   move forward and to design and develop sophisticated products.

The Fab Lab promotes grassroots  innovation, providing an opportunity  for  almost anyone of any age to design  and   make almost anything.

 There’s a  wealth of manufacturing  expertise  available as well as a wide  variety of  digital and practical equipment – including 3D printers, laser and  vinyl  cutters and milling machinery.

Madigan added: “By making what  we  need locally – with minimum or no   waste – a new model of boutique manufacturing is emerging. 

“It’s helped on  the way by a new  generation of IT  literate people who  aren’t afraid of  having a go at making  things for themselves.

“At a time when there’s broad  consensus that the British economy  needs  to be rebalanced in favour of  manufacturing, this revolution and extension of the boundaries of traditional   manufacturing couldn’t be taking  place  at a better time.”

Members of the public have free use  of  the Ellesmere Port  Fab Lab during   open sessions, but  the facility is  also   available to businesses and entrepreneurs  for the production of  product   prototypes and  testing  out ideas.

While  public users are expected to  share their  inventions with the global  Fab Lab  network, businesses can develop  innovations in private and at low  cost.

Fab Lab Ellesmere Port is a partnership between The Manufacturing Institute, Cheshire West and Chester Council, the Ellesmere Port Development Board , Cheshire & Warrington, Local Enterprise Partnership and  Cheshire Employer and Skills Development (CESD). It is one of only seven other Fab Labs in the UK: Manchester,   Belfast, Derry, Falmouth, Glasgow and   Airedale.

The RSA 2013 President's Lecture,  entitled Making The Future will be  introduced by RSA President HRH The  Princess Royal. It will be live streamed  at 6pm.