Marcin's Story

Marcin Okulczyk

"Hi! My name is Marcin and I come from Poland. I was hired as a PLC (junior) programmer after a former programmer suddenly left the company and they did not have any specialist for PLC programming. This company was producing machinery for medical purposes using high-frequency welding technology. After a month of being in the office I was asked to program the newest edition of their machine - using Siemens TIA Portal - having only electrical drawings provided.

Initially, I was afraid I would end up with ‘spaghetti code’ impossible to debug and I would fail as I had never done a PLC application by myself. My wife and I were praying and somehow Hans’ course appeared to me as I was educating myself on the internet. I felt a strong conviction to purchase it, so I went to my boss and said: “If you want me to succeed with the project, I need this course...”. If my boss would not purchase it, I was determined enough to purchase it myself.

Hans has helped me through his explanations and step-by-step tutorials that he recorded. I was able to program my own PLC application along with watching his instructions. My application was more complex but as I understood how to structure an application (that took me the longest time), I was able to find myself confident in programming, debugging and testing. After the PLC code was done, I programmed an HMI application as well. Some things I learned by myself, but 90% of my success I can attribute to his courses. In my application I used all the tips from Hans and all the features he described.

I must admit that his course was a necessary tool for me to program the application correctly. I had seen programs created by others and in my opinion this course is not only useful, but it is a MUST if you want to program in a neat way. My boss wrote this for me after the project was completed: “Mr. Marcin Okulczyk programmed a PLC and HMI (both newest version from Siemens) for Medical-machine. His task was to set up a complete new program starting from zero, with a minimum technical back up of colleagues. The end result was correct / professional and delivered in time”. Enjoy the courses!"

Richie's Story

Richard Humphreys

“I am from Wrexham, Wales, UK where I have worked in manufacturing industries for 28 years starting as an electrical maintenance engineer. For the last 10 years I have been in machine controls working with PLCs and Drives. For the last 3 years I have been hands-on with PLC, HMI, Scada, Motion, Networks where I have been fortunate to use Siemens TIA Portal learning from video tuition. Although I have worked with Siemens S5 and S7, the new suite of TIA has presented tag-based programming and Profinet connectivity that I wanted to investigate.

I first found Hans’ PLC course on plcskilltree.com through a post on LinkedIn and was immediately impressed with the theme of the content. It looked easy to follow and replicate. Most PLC courses have you create a line or two of basic logic using a timer, a counter and moving some integers. Hans’ courses have been structured around what could be a very real system of filling process tanks from a supply tank utilising devices, user setpoints and suitable animation. Hans’ sample courses were clear and intriguing. They are certainly not basic but delivered so well that they truly are simple to follow.

Since enrolling I have been using the structure, the UDT of data types and DB methods of co-ordinating data. Understanding the different types of DB instances, using in/out references and local tags to build function blocks. Before this I was mapping data words and bits using markers which is risky, labour intensive and chaotic. TIA confidence has grown in me. Larger systems are now seen as modular units that you build up not just a mass of rungs in one OB. I truly believe I have made a shrewd investment in myself with these courses and feel fulfilled in my development progress as a controls guy.

I have taken many video tuition courses over the past few years, but Hans’ courses are perfectly delivered with excellent, relatable content where you build up to a worthwhile outcome. You feel like you have created something useful and enhanced your skills, knowledge, and experience in this training… just as it should be.”

Oleksandr's Story

Oleksandr Kyslynsky

"My name is Oleksandr, and I am a marine electrical engineer from Ukraine with a background in electrical instrumentation and control in marine transportation. Throughout my years of work, I have encountered various PLCs for controlling the equipment I troubleshoot. While I had some basic experience with PLCs and occasionally assisted technicians in configuring them, I felt the need to gain a deeper understanding of PLC programming.

 My goal was to enhance my skills, gain better insights into my job, and potentially explore new career opportunities in the future.  I enrolled in several basic courses, but they often focused solely on explaining basic LAD programming instructions. Such topics are of course helpful, but are not too challenging for electricians and I found them lacking in practical knowledge required for building realistic PLC applications.  So, during another search for some valuable resource, among the basic YouTube videos on PLC training topics, I found a free video by PLCskilltree.com that explained how to structure a PLC application with a practical example closely resembling the equipment I worked with. The concepts presented in the video were both familiar and refreshingly new, making perfect sense.

 The courses content was comprehensive, challenging, and significantly contributed to my development in PLC and HMI programming. What truly set Hans’s courses apart was its ability to bridge the gap between theory and real-world applications. After the courses, I felt confident enough to create my own full-sized application for real-world equipment.  Thanks to Hans and PLCSkilltree.com, I now can see the full picture on how to work on PLC and HMI applications from start to finish. I am capable of independently writing full-sized PLC and HMI applications, and I owe this achievement to the exceptional training provided by Hans’s courses on PLCskilltree.com.

Without hesitation, I recommend the courses on PLCskilltree.com to anyone seeking comprehensive and practical learning in PLC programming. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this platform is the key to unlocking your potential in the world of automation."

Candia's Story

Candia Porter

“My name is Candia Porter, and I am from Canada. I graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. Currently I am working as an Electrical Designer. I learned some courses about Allen Bradley PLC program in college, I didn’t have any experience with TIA Portal. During my work, I learned how to use TIA Portal to commission our machines. We have some template programs in the system from previous projects, but it was difficult for me to step into another programmer’s brain. I didn’t know where to start.

So I started to search on YouTube for TIA Portal programming related topics. I wanted to find a real-world example related to my work, so I could self-study - so I could get on the right track to benefit my work. I searched and watched a lot of YouTube videos. When I finished watching Hans’s video “How to Structure Your PLC Program in TIA Portal Like a Pro (Full Course Chapter) | In-Depth Tutorial”, I was totally sold by his course material. Such a neat and clear explanation for programming TIA portal applications. The logic is very clear. I subscribed to his channel right away and went to his home page and bought the PLC & HMI online courses too.

After taking Hans’s courses, I can now read and understand part of the programming in my company’s system. I am still under training, but I am more confident now to start writing my own TIA applications. Now I start to like programming and when I am commissioning machines, I enjoy doing it. The understanding of the program improves my design concept too. That’s an unexpected side benefit.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you are experienced. Hans’s courses are structured well, and make programming logic much more clear and easy to understand. The courses had a lot of professional tips and best practices. I learned a lot from his courses - thanks Hans!”

Doug's Story

Douglas Olds

“I found myself having to modify a very shabby Siemens PLC project created by an amateur in TIA portal V16. The project was supplied with a package equipment system but lacked many safety and functional features. To integrate the equipment into my facility, I had to add a bunch of I/O modules, instrumentation, and logic in a hurry. On top of that, I had never programmed with TIA portal before, I’ve only used Allen Bradley!

That is when I found PLC Skills Tree. It was extremely useful to get up to speed with TIA portal very quickly and helped me get my project up and running. Especially helpful is the emphasis on project organization and structure. I have found that this makes all the difference. Good structure makes a PLC project more functional and easier to troubleshoot and modify. Hans’ sample project is exactly what I like to see in professionally developed PLC projects. It is well worth the money to buy these courses. Thank you, Hans.”