A PackML-based Design Pattern for Modular PLC Code

Abstract Software is exponentially growing in modern automatic machines. Consequently, the operations of writing, debug and maintenance are increasing the time necessary to be accomplished. In order to shorten this time, there is the need to define methodologies for software which enhance modularity, along with re-usability and standardization. This work collects the needs of several industries working in packaging domain for PLC code writing, proposing a solution which overcomes the limits of other well known approaches defined in literature: Object-Orientation and Model Driven Engineering. The proposed solution is a design pattern based on the PackML. This can be considered as an introductory work about this topic. We hope that the scientific community will increase the researches, in order to standardize and facilitate the software writing which dimensions are becoming an issue above all for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).