Abstract: Lead frame workholder and transport apparatus for holding and transporting a strip of lead frames from one station to another, each lead frame having a pad and a locating pinhole, comprises a track having an input station at one end and an output station at the other end with an application station in between, a vacuum loader for loading a strip of lead frames onto the input station, a first transporter for contacting the lead frame strip in the input station by inserting a pin into the locating pinhole and moving the strip along the track to the application station, and a second transporter for moving the strip to the output station and into an exit carrier. A method of applying an epoxy layer to the pads of a strip of lead frames using the apparatus is disclosed.