Siemens PLC Training Cart | GVSU Outstanding Senior Project Award Winner

Congratulations to Grand Valley State University College of Engineering Senior Project Team 12 on winning the Outstanding Senior Project People’s Choice Award last week for the Mission Design & Automation-sponsored Siemens PLC Training Cart. We could not be prouder of Mission’s co-op team members Marcus McIllwain (controls engineer co-op) and Emma Rose (applications & mechanical engineer co-op), as well as the other students on Team 12, for the work they’ve accomplished on their senior project.

About the Siemens PLC Training Cart

Siemens PLCs are becoming increasingly common across the automation industry. While Mission Design & Automation has more commonly used other PLC brands in the past, as our customers specifically request Siemens PLCs, the need for a training platform became apparent.

GVSU Engineering’s Senior Project Team 12 began designing and building a safe, compact, functional training cart equipped with Siemens hardware and software. Intended to simulate real-world automation tasks, such as barcode scanning and I/O mapping, the cart includes dedicated lab exercises to address trickier-to-program tasks, such as string handling and servo commissioning.

Team 12’s Design Approach

Senior Project Team 12’s design approach was focused on creating a modular, safe, industry-relevant training system.

 The cart features:

• XY servo gantry using Tolomatic actuators and Siemens servo motors, paired with a vacuum-based suction cup end-of-arm-tool to pick and place 3D-printed parts
• Barcode scanner to identify each part and prompt the operator to handle string data within the Siemens S7-1500 PLC
• Predefined pick-and-place locations confirmed using photoelectric sensors, reinforcing user I/O mapping and motion control skills
• NEMA 12-rated mobile aluminum 80/20 frame enclosure with castor wheels, safety light curtains, and Lexan guarding
• Programming in Siemens TIA Portal & five training labs designed to reinforce skills through real-time system interaction

Specifications:

• Size: ≤ 34″ W × 72″ L × 78″ H
• Work Surface Height: 38″
• Mobility: 4 caster wheels, 2 brakes, 1 push handle
• Power: 480 V input, >30 A main breaker
• Pneumatics: 80 psi, vacuum-based EOAT
• Safety: NEMA 12 enclosure, E-stops, light curtains, safety circuit
• Labs: I/O mapping, servo commissioning, pick & place, QR code scanning/string manipulation

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Impact of the Siemens PLC Training Cart

“These students working on this project had a very large obstacle to overcome and were able to provide an excellent tool for Mission’s controls engineers to learn the Siemens PLC platform. Even controls engineers with a few years of experience would have been challenged as much as they were, learning the Siemens infrastructure. They did an outstanding job,” said Andrew Grosse, Senior Controls Engineer at Mission Design & Automation and mentor for Senior Project Team 12.

The cart will serve as a vital training resource for new and old employees alike, helping Mission Design & Automation continue to best serve our customers by equipping our team with the skills and experience to work with PLCs from a variety of suppliers. Again, thank you to the student team for their dedication and hard work creating the Siemens PLC Training Cart.

Mission’s Training Programs in Collaboration with Grand Valley State University

Mission Design & Automation not only sponsored a GVSU senior project this year, but we also take part in Grand Valley’s engineering co-op program. Members of Senior Project Team 12 Marcus McIllwain and Emma Rose have been working at Mission as co-op employees this past school year. We’re honored to have been awarded GVSU’s 2025 Co-Op Employer of the Year. Watch our celebratory video to learn more about what this recognition means to our current co-ops, past co-ops, and other team members. Click here!