与包含用于施加保持力的多个相对可移位夹紧装置（18）的保持装置（10）处理的柔性垫状工件（30，图30a）的方法，所述通过移位可定制，以自由形式表面邻接表面夹紧装置（18）相对于彼此 提供（20），包括以下步骤： - 从一个特定的平坦初始配置与活化的夹持装置（18）拾取所述工件（30，图30a）; 和 - 夹紧装置（18）相对于彼此变形工件（30，图30a）在所期望的自由形式，是以使保持装置的抓握表面在结构上简单且可靠的方式适合于自由曲面，被配置和训练有素的位移， 之前或在每一夹持工具的夹紧装置（18）的位移（18）时的保持力被减小，使得所述工件的第一部分（34），其沿着所述接触表面（20）和第二部分变形过程中（30，图30a）滑动（ 36）在工件（30，图30a）的由夹紧装置（18）固定到所述支承表面（20）。

A method of handling flexible mat-like workpieces (30, 30a) with a holding device (10) comprising a plurality of relatively displaceable gripping devices (18) for exerting a holding force, wherein the gripping devices (18) relative to each other by shifting a customizable on a freeform surface contact surface (20) provide, comprising the steps of:
- Recording of the workpiece (30, 30a) of a particular flat initial configuration with activated gripping devices (18); and
- Displacement of the gripping devices (18) relative to one another to deform the workpiece (30, 30a) in a desired freeform, is with a view to make the gripping surface of a holding device in a structurally simple and reliable manner adapted to free-form surfaces, configured and developed in that the retaining force before or during the displacement of the gripping devices (18) on each gripping means (18) is reduced so that first portions (34) of the workpiece (30, 30a) during its deformation along the contact surface (20) to slip and second portions (36 ) of the workpiece (30, 30a) by means of the gripping devices (18) are fixed on the bearing surface (20).