ACC Automation was built on one idea: practical knowledge from people who actually work in the field. The tutorials, articles, and simulator tools on this site come from real automation professionals with real hands-on experience.
As the site grows, so does the team behind it. This page introduces the contributors who bring their expertise to ACC Automation — people whose knowledge you can trust because they earned it on the job, not just in a classroom.
Garry Shortt — Founder, ACC Automation
Garry Shortt is the founder of ACC Automation and has been publishing free PLC programming tutorials, HMI guides, and automation content since 2014. With over 500 articles and tutorials on the site, ACC Automation has become one of the most referenced free resources for AutomationDirect PLC programming on the web.
Garry works as an Operations Manager at a wire and cable manufacturer in Ontario, Canada, where he applies automation, PLC programming, SQL, and systems integration daily. His technical background spans AutomationDirect Click, BRX Do-More, and Productivity Series PLCs; C-More HMI; Modbus TCP/RTU; Node-RED; and industrial database integration.
ACC Automation’s content focuses on beginner-to-intermediate professionals who want practical, hands-on guidance — not theory alone. Every tutorial is written with the plant floor in mind.
Connect with Garry:
Articles by Garry: All tutorials and series on this site — Browse the full library
Chris Urban — Automation Educator and PLC Trainer
Chris Urban is an automation educator and PLC trainer based near Montreal, Quebec, with over 40 years of experience across electronics, computing, and industrial automation. He holds an engineering degree — from the Polytechnical Institute of Bucharest — specializing in computers and industrial automation, a teaching license from McGill University, and a programming certificate from the University of Montreal.
Chris taught PLC programming at a vocational training center for many years, building his own student trainers from scratch and contributing to a curriculum that took complete beginners to working technicians. Two of his former students — Diyu and Rodney — documented their entire trainer build journeys on his YouTube channel. Both are now experienced automation professionals.
In January 2025, Chris was featured in Elektor Magazine — one of the most respected electronics publications in the world since 1960 — in an extensive profile covering his career, his DIY PLC trainer designs, and his philosophy of hands-on learning.
His YouTube channel has over 150 videos organized into four playlists: PLC Trainers Step by Step, Your Time to Shine, The French Connection (an 11-station industrial PLC network), and Electronics Projects for Beginners.
Connect with Chris:
Articles by Chris Urban on ACC Automation:
- How Can You Control AC Loads from a PLC?
- Is It Really Useful to Build Your Own PLC Trainer? – Coming soon…
Are you an automation professional with knowledge worth sharing? ACC Automation is always looking for contributors who bring real hands-on experience to the table. Get in touch.