Industrial Wiring Trainer and PLC/HMI Trainer by APT Manufacturing
Before a student can program a PLC, they need to understand how one is wired. Before they can integrate a robot with an automation system, they need to know how industrial control panels are built, how devices are mounted and labeled, how wiring is routed and terminated, and how Ethernet and I/O connections are made. That foundational knowledge is what separates a technician who can follow instructions from one who can actually troubleshoot and build systems from scratch.
The APT PLC/HMI Industrial Wiring Trainer, also known as the FRIEND (FANUC Rockwell Integrated Educational NextGen Device), is a Rockwell Automation and FANUC integrated control panel project kit that teaches students industrial wiring techniques from the ground up. Students start with a bare electrical panel, install PLC and HMI devices, route and label wiring to industry standards, and finish with a fully functional control panel ready to connect to a FANUC robot or any other automation device.
Klein Educational supplies the PLC/HMI Trainer to CTE programs, community colleges, and workforce development programs across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska. As the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in these seven states, we help programs get the right configuration specified, installed, and running.
What is the PLC/HMI Industrial Wiring Trainer?
The PLC/HMI Trainer is a Rockwell Automation CompactLogix control panel electrical project kit developed through a partnership between Rockwell Automation, FANUC, and APT Manufacturing Solutions. It is designed to serve two purposes simultaneously: teaching industrial wiring and panel building skills, and providing a fully functional PLC and HMI programming platform that integrates directly with FANUC robots and other automation systems.
The system is built around the Rockwell CompactLogix 5380 controller with Integrated Motion, featuring 16 digital inputs and 16 digital outputs, paired with a Rockwell PanelView 5310 10-inch touch screen graphic terminal and a 5-port Stratix Ethernet switch. Wireless connectivity is provided via an HMS Anybus Bolt supporting 802.11 a/b/g/n on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands with Bluetooth capability, allowing the trainer to communicate with robots and other devices without a physical Ethernet connection when needed.
The trainer ships ready to use as a standalone PLC and HMI programming platform, and is also available in kit form where students build the panel themselves using industrial schematics, wire labels, and termination ferrules, adding a complete hands-on wiring experience before any programming begins.
What students and trainees learn
The PLC/HMI Trainer supports learning across two complementary skill areas that together form the foundation every advanced manufacturing
technician needs.
In the industrial wiring area, students develop skills including reading and interpreting electrical wiring schematics and panel layout drawings, mounting PLC and HMI devices in a NEMA 12 steel industrial enclosure, routing and bundling wiring through wireways, applying wire labels and termination ferrules to industry standards, installing terminals, circuit breakers, fuses, and DIN rail, and connecting power supplies and circuit protection modules. These are the hands-on fabrication skills that electricians and controls technicians use every day in manufacturing facilities.
In the PLC and HMI programming area, the Rockwell curriculum covers CompactLogix System Fundamentals, Basic Ladder Logic Programming, Ladder Logic Project Development, Studio 5000 Logix Designer Levels 1 and 2, Factory Talk View ME and PanelView Plus Programming, Industrial Network Architecture, and Ethernet/IP Configuration and Troubleshooting. Optional modules extend into motion control using Kinetix 5700 servo drives and PowerFlex 750 variable frequency drives for programs that want to add those capabilities.
The specific skills students build include:
Industrial panel wiring, routing, and labeling to industry standards
Rockwell CompactLogix PLC programming using Studio 5000
Rockwell PanelView HMI application development and operation
Ladder logic programming and project development
Ethernet/IP network configuration and troubleshooting
Wireless network integration using HMS Anybus
Robot to PLC integration over Ethernet IP protocol
Discrete I/O connection to FANUC robot peripheral I/O board
Sequence logic programming and PLC robot program calls
Optional motion control with Kinetix 5700 and PowerFlex 750
Integration with FANUC robots and APT systems
One of the most important features of the PLC/HMI Trainer is its ability to connect directly to FANUC robots and other APT systems. The trainer interfaces with any FANUC CERT cart, MTEC CERT, or MTEC-SIM CERT cart over Ethernet IP protocol, with an optional discrete I/O kit available for programs that prefer hardwired I/O connections. A pre-loaded PLC robot integration program template makes it straightforward for students to establish communication between the PLC and a FANUC robot without having to build the integration framework from scratch.
This integration capability makes the PLC/HMI Trainer a natural first step in a progressive advanced manufacturing curriculum. Students learn wiring and PLC fundamentals on the trainer, then apply those skills in a connected environment with a FANUC robot, and from there can advance to the AM CERT, MTEC, or ultimately the full CSM Connected Smart Manufacturing system. APT positions this trainer explicitly as a pathway to CSM, and the skills it builds are directly applicable at every stage of that progression.
System specifications and options
The PLC/HMI Trainer is housed in a NEMA 12 steel industrial enclosure and runs on 120 VAC power with a 10-foot power cord. Four illuminated push buttons in red, amber, green, and blue, along with a three-position selector switch, provide a basic operator interface for testing and demonstration. Dual Ethernet access ports and cable glands on the enclosure allow external device connections without opening the panel.
Available options include a pre-built panel version for programs that want to start with programming immediately, a discrete I/O kit to FANUC peripheral I/O board, a pre-installed discrete I/O FANUC peripheral kit, mobile workbench options for one or two panels serving two to four students simultaneously, a PLC robot integration program and step sequencer, replenishment and rebuild parts kits, and APT Kinetix and PowerFlex PIA modules for motion control curriculum.
Why this training matters for your program
PLC programming is one of the most universally required technical skills in advanced manufacturing, but PLC skills taught in isolation from the physical wiring and integration context leave students underprepared for real industrial environments. Control panels need to be built correctly before they can be programmed correctly, and technicians who understand the hardware as well as the software are far more valuable to employers than those who only know one side.
The PLC/HMI Trainer bridges that gap by teaching both in a single system, using the same Rockwell Automation platform that dominates manufacturing facilities across the country. Students who complete this training are prepared for Rockwell Industry Certification and ready to step into controls technician, automation technician, and PLC programmer roles with practical experience on the exact tools those jobs require.
How Klein Educational supports your program
Klein Educational is more than an equipment supplier. We work with CTE directors, college department heads, and workforce administrators from the first conversation through installation and beyond. That includes needs assessment, equipment specification, lab layout planning, and staff training.
As the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in the western US, we have direct access to the full PLC/HMI Trainer system, curriculum, and support infrastructure, which means faster service and deeper product knowledge than you will find anywhere else in the region.
Frequently asked questions
What is the APT PLC/HMI Industrial Wiring Trainer? The APT PLC/HMI Trainer is a Rockwell Automation CompactLogix control panel project kit developed in partnership with Rockwell, FANUC, and APT Manufacturing. Students build and wire an industrial control panel from scratch, then use it as a fully functional PLC and HMI programming platform that integrates with FANUC robots and other automation systems.
Can the trainer be purchased as a kit for students to build? Yes. The trainer is available in both a pre-built version ready for immediate programming use and a kit form where students use industrial schematics to mount and wire all components themselves, adding a complete hands-on panel building experience to the curriculum.
Does the PLC/HMI Trainer connect to FANUC robots? Yes. The trainer interfaces with any FANUC CERT cart, MTEC CERT, or MTEC-SIM over Ethernet IP protocol or optional discrete I/O. A pre-loaded PLC robot integration program template is included to simplify the integration process.
What Rockwell certifications can students work toward? The curriculum included with the trainer prepares students for Rockwell Industry Certification, covering CompactLogix fundamentals, ladder logic programming, Studio 5000 Logix Designer, Factory Talk View ME, PanelView programming, and Ethernet/IP networking.
Is the trainer a pathway to the CSM system? Yes. APT positions the PLC/HMI Trainer explicitly as a pathway to the CSM Connected Smart Manufacturing system. The PLC and integration skills students build on this trainer apply directly to every station in the CSM line.
Does Klein Educational help with lab setup and installation? Yes. Klein works with programs from needs assessment through equipment specification, lab layout, installation, and staff training. We guide the entire process so your program is set up correctly from day one.
What states does Klein Educational serve? We serve California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska as the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in these seven states.
Ready to Bring Industrial Wiring and PLC Training to Your Program?
Whether you are introducing PLC fundamentals for the first time or building a pathway toward a fully integrated smart manufacturing line, our team will help you find the right configuration for your space, budget, and goals.