Abstract: Plate shaped objects to be chemically treated in baths, are supplied from a supply stack in a horizontal position on a first station. After a predetermined number of objects has been deposited on a table of lifting device, the table is turned into a vertical position. A transporting device provided with gripper means seizes the vertically oriented object, and transports it along a structure for supporting a plurality of suspension frames to a feeding position at which the object is loaded into an assigned suspension frame. After chemical treatment of the object in the bath, the transporting device receives the object at a transfer point and returns it to a discharging station where it is turned down into a horizontal position and discharged on a take off stack.