The invention includes an apparatus (01) and a method for handling articles (02). The apparatus (01) includes a first conveyor (03) for the supply of articles (02), a second conveyor (04) for the supply of outer packagings (05), and a third conveyor (06) for the discharge of outer packagings items (07). The apparatus also includes a placing surface (08) formed by a section (62, 60) of the third conveyor (06) and arranged between the first conveyor (03) and the second conveyor (04). A transfer device (09) for the transferring of supplied outer packagings (05) from the second conveyor (04) to the placing surface (08), and a transplacing device (10) for transferring articles (02) from the first conveyor (03) into outer packagings (05) having been transferred onto the placing surface (08) are also included. The method includes placing articles (02) into outer packagings (05) staged on a placing surface (08), where the articles (02) are supplied from one or more article flows of articles (02). The outer packagings (05) are supplied independently of the articles (02) in a transport direction (41) and are transferred onto the placing surface (08) individually or groupwise transversely to the transport direction (41). The outer packaging items (07) are discharged independently of the supply of articles (02) and outer packagings (05) in parallel to the transport direction (41) and in the direction of the transport direction (41) or opposite to it.