Industrial Automation Training Centre

Since its founding in 2019, the Industrial Automation Training Centre (IATC) has grown into a leading provider of hands-on Siemens PLC training in South Africa. What began as a small-scale training initiative for North-West University students has evolved into a nationally recognised centre for industrial automation skills development.

The IATC was established at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus with a focus on providing student training in the TIA-Micro system — an ideal starting point for those new to Siemens automation technology. This early success laid the foundation for expansion. In 2022 and 2023, we introduced the Pro1 and Pro2 courses, enabling participants to advance from basic to intermediate and advanced PLC programming skills.

Recognising the need for interface development skills in industry, the TIA-WCCM (HMI) course was added to our offerings in 2025, equipping learners with the tools to design and deploy Human-Machine Interfaces for modern industrial systems.

A significant milestone was achieved in 2024, when we presented our first course to industry professionals. This marked a new chapter for the IATC, as we extended our reach beyond academia and started supporting engineers and technicians in the field with accredited, real-world training solutions.

This entry-level course has trained over 300 NWU engineering students since 2019. Participants gain essential knowledge in PLC programming, hardware configuration, and automation concepts using the Siemens TIA Portal and S7-1200 PLCs. Many graduates have gone on to complete Pro1 and Pro2 training or apply these skills during their final-year engineering projects.

Launched in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Pro1 and Pro2 have elevated learners' skills to industrial standards. These courses cover complex logic, PID control, SCADA connectivity, and fault-finding techniques. The feedback from both students and industry clients has been overwhelmingly positive, citing immediate improvements in confidence and on-the-job performance.

The latest addition to our training suite, this course focuses on Human-Machine Interface (HMI) development and implementation using the TIA Portal. Participants learn to create intuitive, responsive interfaces that enhance process visibility and control. It has quickly become one of our most popular offerings.

In 2024, the IATC opened its doors to industry professionals. This shift allowed us to support companies looking to upskill their staff in automation, with tailored training that bridges the gap between theory and industrial application. Participants from the mining, manufacturing, and food processing sectors have already benefited from our targeted short courses.

At the IATC, we measure our success by the success of our participants. Whether you are a student preparing for your engineering career or an industry professional refining your automation skillset, we are proud to be part of your journey.

Have you completed a course at the IATC and applied your new skills in a meaningful way? We'd love to hear about it. Reach out to us and be featured on this page.