PLC Simulator
Packaging vertical

PLC Simulator for Packaging Machinery

Practice PLC programming for packaging: carton erectors, case packers, labelers, and palletisers. Auto-graded scenarios, real IEC 61131-3 execution, no install.

Start freeLadder logic guide →

Join 1300+ learners practicing PLC programming

Packaging-specific scenarios

The four packaging control challenges that matter

Carton erector control

Blank detection, fold sequence timing, glue pulse control, and reject gate logic. Practice the step-by-step carton forming sequence with timer interlocks.

Palletiser layer sequencing

Row count, layer count, pattern selection, stack height monitoring, and pallet transfer. Multi-step sequencing with counter-driven transitions.

Labeler registration

Label index pulse, print-and-apply timing, product gap detection, label-missing alarm. High-speed event handling and reject logic.

How packaging PLC control works

A visual map of packaging machine control

Packaging logic is sequence-heavy: photoeyes and counters step product through discrete stations, timers gate glue and reject pulses, and a seal-in latch holds each running state. These are the building blocks behind the carton, case, labeler, and palletiser scenarios.

Packaging count-and-batch logic — an up-counter incrementing on each product photoeye pulse to trigger the case-insert station and reset for the next caseA CTU count-up counter: each input pulse increments the accumulator toward the preset, and the done (DN) bit turns on when count reaches preset.count pulsesCTUPRE 5ACC 3ACCcount toward presetDNdone bit
Counters — count product per case, cases per layer, layers per pallet.
Packaging timer logic — an on-delay timer gating glue-gun dwell and the dwell-before-reject delay on a carton erectorA TON on-delay timer: the accumulated time bar ramps up toward the preset value, and the done (DN) bit turns on when the accumulator reaches preset.TONPRE 5000ACCACC ramps to PREPREDNdone bit
Timers — glue dwell, applicator on-time, and the gap-to-reject delay.
Packaging conveyor and indexing motor control — start/stop logic driving the infeed conveyor and indexing drive of a case packer from a PLC outputA 3-wire motor control circuit: Stop and Start pushbuttons, a contactor coil with a seal-in auxiliary contact and an overload contact, driving a motor.StopStartM (seal-in)OLMMmotor
Motor control — infeed conveyors and indexing drives across the line.
Packaging seal-in latch — a start/stop seal-in rung holding the running state of a packaging machine cycle until a stop or jam condition breaks itA seal-in latch rung: a Start contact in parallel with a Hold contact, in series with a normally-closed Stop contact, driving an output coil.StartHold (seal)StopMotor
Seal-in latch — holds each running state until a stop, jam, or e-stop breaks it.
Packaging line HMI and SCADA — the operator screen showing case counts, line speed, reject totals, and machine status across the packaging lineA SCADA supervisory layer above a PLC, an operator HMI panel beside the PLC, and the PLC wired down to field devices such as sensors and a motor.SCADAsupervisory layerHMI panelPLCcontrollerSMfield devices (sensors, motor)
HMI / SCADA — case counts, line speed, reject totals, and station status.
The PLC scan cycle on a packaging machine — read photoeye and count inputs, execute the sequencing state machine, fire glue and reject outputs, then repeatThe repeating PLC scan cycle: read inputs, execute the ladder logic, update outputs, then housekeeping, looping continuously.1Read Inputs2Execute Logic3Update Outputs4HousekeepingSCANCYCLE
The scan cycle — read photoeyes and counts, step the sequence, fire outputs, repeat.

Build these for real in the browser PLC simulator, or start the free curriculum.

Packaging scenarios

Auto-graded packaging machine scenarios

Carton Erector

Blank detection, fold sequence, glue pulse, reject gate.

View scenario →

Case Packer

Product grouping, insert cycle, case sealing, reject.

View scenario →

Labeler

Label registration, print-and-apply timing, missing label alarm.

View scenario →

Palletiser

Layer pattern, row count, stack height, pallet transfer.

View scenario →

Pick and Place

Robot handshake, gripper control, vision reject integration.

View scenario →

Bottling Line

Fill control, cap torque, level detect, line balancing.

View scenario →

How it works

01

Sign up free

No credit card. Two auto-graded scenarios immediately.

02

Read the machine brief

Each packaging scenario includes I/O list, sequence description, and timing requirements.

03

Write the program

IEC, Allen-Bradley, or Siemens dialect. Real ladder execution against the packaging machine model.

04

Get graded

Auto-grader runs packaging test cases: cycle counts, reject logic, timing checks.

Why packaging controls engineers use this

Packaging-specific scenarios — not just traffic lights and tank fills
Sequence-heavy scenarios that test multi-step machine control
Counter-driven transitions typical of packaging line logic
Reject gate and fault recovery patterns used in real OEM machines
Auto-graded with per-test feedback — no manual inspection
Practice before commissioning — iterate safely in simulation first

Try the packaging scenarios free

Two scenarios free forever. Full access from a monthly rate.

Start freeSee pricing

Keep exploring

Related practice on this site

Questions

Packaging PLC FAQ

The packaging scenarios include Carton Erector (carton blank detection, fold sequence, glue pulse), Case Packer (product grouping, insert cycle, reject logic), Labeler (label registration, applicator timing, print-and-apply sequence), and Palletiser (layer pattern, row count, stack height, pallet transfer).

Practice packaging PLC programming today

Carton, palletiser, labeler scenarios. No install. No credit card.

Create free account →