Abstract: A method for producing panels having an upper usable surface and locking profiles for mechanical locking of similar panels to one another, wherein recesses are provided on at least two edge regions lying opposite one another, and the recesses of two similar panels locked to one another form a mutual joint can include dividing a half-form, which includes a plurality of panel blanks with at least two grooves forming the recesses into multiple half-form parts. The type/position of at least one identification mark of the half-form parts can be detected. The half-form parts and a processing tool can be aligned to one another according to the detected type/position of the identification mark. A locking profile can be machined from the half-form parts by the processing device on at least one side of the half form parts.