A cost-effective modular laboratory solution for industrial automation and applied engineering education.

In today's digital landscape, affordable Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) for industrial automation and applied engineering education are essential, as traditional setups are often too costly for many institutions and individuals. In this paper, a cost-effective, modular PLC lab was designed and developed to enable hands-on learning in industrial automation. The lab accommodates ten pairs of trainees, allowing for simultaneous experimentation using modular simulation kits tailored for various applications, such as traffic light systems, elevators, and automated filling systems. Trainees can prepare, test, and verify their code on these kits in real-time, enhancing their hands-on experience with programmable logic controllers. Each kit offers a set of features, including an integrated input/output interface that supports a variety of input types (e.g., switches, sensors, and push buttons) and output options (e.g., lights, motors, and actuators). This well-rounded setup is specifically designed to meet the educational and training objectives of the lab, promoting an interactive learning environment that develops essential automation skills and builds trainee confidence in applying PLC technology across real-world scenarios.•Offers a cost-effective PLC solution for industrial automation and engineering education, addressing the high cost of traditional systems.•Provides a scalable PLC lab setup developed to facilitate hands-on learning and practical experience in industrial automation, enabling simultaneous experimentation and collaborative learning.•Aligns with educational objectives, fostering an interactive, hands-on environment that builds essential automation skills, by enabling real-code preparation, testing and verification.