An apparatus for transferring a container disposed in a transfer area of a container-processing machine from a first component to a second component includes a first gripper for holding the container in a neck area thereof, the first gripper being associated with the first component; a second gripper for receiving the container from the first gripper by holding the container in a neck area thereof, the second gripper being associated with the second component; and a diverting element for sliding or transferring the container from the first gripper to the second gripper when the first and second grippers are in the transfer area. When disposed in the transfer area, the first and second grippers are coplanar with each other and positioned facing each other.