The apparatus for handling of substantially flat and flexible items (2), particularly skin elements, comprising overhead transferring means (3; 3a) for supporting and transferring the items (2) has conveyor means (5) for said items (2), said conveyor means (5) cooperating with vertically movable displacing means (8, 11; 73, 11a) for displacing said items (2) between said transferring means (3; 3a) and said conveyor means (5); the method comprises removing said items (2) from, or delivering said items to, overhead transferring means (3; 3a) for supporting and transferring the items (2); said removing and/or said delivering is performed by vertically movable displacing means (8, 11; 65, 11a) movable from said transferring means (3; 3a) to downwardly extending conveyor means (5) and vice versa.