A method for automatically forming packaging boxes, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least four folding units (80-83) at a supporting station , wherein the at least four folding units (80-83) comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned at a longitudinal distance from the front pair 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 are positioned at a transverse distance from each other; placing a blank having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular side and end panels onto the at least four folding units (80-83) such that the folding units (80-83) support the rectangular bottom panel ; wherein at least one of the at least four folding units (80-83) 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 (80-83) folds respective side and/or end panels of the blank upwardly, wherein each of the folding units (80-83) of the front pair and rear pair 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 (46-49), 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 (80-83) at a supporting station , wherein the at least four folding units (80-83) comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned at a longitudinal distance from the front pair 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 are positioned at a transverse distance from each other; placing a blank having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular side and end panels onto the at least four folding units (80-83) such that the folding units (80-83) support the rectangular bottom panel ; wherein at least one of the at least four folding units (80-83) 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 (80-83) folds respective side and/or end panels of the blank upwardly, wherein each of the folding units (80-83) of the front pair and rear pair 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 (46-49), 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 . <EOS>