Siemens, through their global SCE Educational Support program, has donated automation hardware and software for Michigan Tech’s PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) laboratory. The donation is intended to support career pathways in manufacturing and engineering. Provided at no cost to MTU, the market value of this donation is just over $100,000 based on Siemens published pricing,
Nathir Rawashdeh, assistant professor of applied computing in the College of Computing, teaches two courses in PLC, which are popular with students in various disciplines, including mechatronics, electrical engineering technology, electrical engineering, robotics engineering, and mechanical engineering. He will incorporate the new Siemens PLC software into his classes, Rawashdeh thanks Mrs. Amanda Beaton of SCE for this gift.
The in-kind gift specifically includes:
- SIMATIC S7-1215 Programmable Logic Controller x 1
- STEP 7 Software (1 year student licenses) x 100
- STEP 7 TIA Portal floating software x 2
The global SCE Educational Support program helps schools use Siemens’ leading edge industrial technologies in classrooms, research projects, and workforce development initiatives. The SCE program provides free curriculum, instructor training and ongoing support for the successful adoption of these technologies.
Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of systems for power generation and transmission as well as medical diagnosis. With approximately 348,000 employees in more than 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $86.2 billion in fiscal 2015. Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $22.4 billion, including $5.5 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.