Abstract: To provide for low-noise, low-shock operation, transport plates which, preferably, are essentially square and have, on two adjacent sides, recessed elastic material (31), the opposite sides being formed with projections to engage against the elastic material. A transport belt arrangement, having two spaced belts, moves the transport plates continuously. If a transport plate is to be arrested at a work station (WS), a presser plate (5) is lifted upwardly, preferably by a piston-cylinder unit (8) to lift the transport plate off the belts and engage the presser plate with a stationary, preferably three-point counter bearing (28), with sufficient holding force to provide a back-up for working tools, for example a drill press, boring machine or the like, operating on a work piece (23) secured to the transport plate.