The invention relates to a method and machine arrangements for sequential processing of sheet-like substrates (51), in which a front side and/or rear side of said substrates is/are respectively processed in a production line one after the other, wherein a printing ink or ink is applied in at least one non-impact printing device (06) on the respective side of the substrates, wherein the printing ink or ink is dried. A dispersion coating or a coating cured by UV radiation is then applied onto the respective side of the substrates, the dispersion coating or the coating cured by UV radiation beingdried and the substrates being fed to a mechanical processing device (11) for carrying out a further mechanical processing of the substrates. According to the invention, the further mechanical processing is performed by punching and/or inserting grooves and/or separating parts and/or by breaking out panels from their respective composite in the respective substrate.