With funds and equipment provided by AutomationDirect, Cumming, Ga., Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, Ill., recently opened its new AutomationDirect automation laboratory in the university's Department of Technology. The laboratory is designed to support the university's Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and automation courses.

The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) course teaches students basic and advanced concepts and applications for PLC programming. In addition, the students learn to integrate various components with the PLC, such as sensors, switches, and output devices.