A method for automatically forming packaging boxes, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least four folding units at a supporting station, wherein the at least four folding units comprise a front pair (82, 83) of folding units and a rear pair (80, 81) of folding units positioned at a longitudinal distance from the front pair (82, 83) of folding units, wherein the folding units of the front pair 82, 83) are positioned at a transverse distance from each other, and wherein the folding units of the rear pair (80, 81) are positioned at a transverse distance from each other; placing a blank having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular side (42, 43) and end (44, 45) panels onto the at least four folding units such that the folding units support the rectangular bottom panel; wherein at least one of the at least four folding units is provided with a controllable gripping element for gripping the bottom panel, wherein said controllable gripping element is activated into an operative mode gripping the bottom panel and is deactivated for releasing the bottom panel; wherein said at least one of the folding units folds respective side (42, 43) and/or end (44, 45) panels of the blank upwardly, wherein each of the folding units of the front pair (82, 83) and rear pair (80, 81) is provided with controllable end panel folding flaps and/or controllable side panel folding flaps and/or a controllable initiator for initiating the folding of a corner panel, and wherein the said method further comprises the step of allowing the at least one gripping element during gripping of the rectangular bottom panel to move freely in a horizontal plane in order to be able to follow possible transverse movements of the rectangular bottom panel. providing at least four folding units at a supporting station, wherein the at least four folding units comprise a front pair (82, 83) of folding units and a rear pair (80, 81) of folding units positioned at a longitudinal distance from the front pair (82, 83) of folding units, wherein the folding units of the front pair 82, 83) are positioned at a transverse distance from each other, and wherein the folding units of the rear pair (80, 81) are positioned at a transverse distance from each other; placing a blank having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular side (42, 43) and end (44, 45) panels onto the at least four folding units such that the folding units support the rectangular bottom panel; wherein at least one of the at least four folding units is provided with a controllable gripping element for gripping the bottom panel, wherein said controllable gripping element is activated into an operative mode gripping the bottom panel and is deactivated for releasing the bottom panel; wherein said at least one of the folding units folds respective side (42, 43) and/or end (44, 45) panels of the blank upwardly, wherein each of the folding units of the front pair (82, 83) and rear pair (80, 81) is provided with controllable end panel folding flaps and/or controllable side panel folding flaps and/or a controllable initiator for initiating the folding of a corner panel, and wherein the said method further comprises the step of allowing the at least one gripping element during gripping of the rectangular bottom panel to move freely in a horizontal plane in order to be able to follow possible transverse movements of the rectangular bottom panel.