Palletizing apparatus, comprising a compressing apparatus which has a peripheral closed frame, at least one slide (61, 62, 63, 64) which can be moved in a horizontal direction being arranged on the frame, and a depositing device which defines a transport surface for transporting article layers, the frame surrounding an opening which is continuous in a vertical direction, it being possible for the depositing device to be moved relative to the compressing apparatus in the longitudinal direction between a first longitudinal position, in which the transport surface is arranged offset with respect to the frame in a longitudinal direction, and a second longitudinal position, in which a projection of the continuous opening in the vertical direction lies on the transport surface, and the compressing device, which comprises a first slide, a second slide, a third slide and a fourth slide which are arranged at the same height in a working position in the vertical direction, and the depositing device being arranged on a lifting apparatus such that they can be moved in the vertical direction, the frame having a rectangular cross section for frame parts (71, 72, 73, 74), and a slide (61, 62, 63, 64) being arranged on each of the frame parts (71, 72, 73, 74), the first slide being arranged on the first frame part, the second slide being arranged on the second frame part, the third slide being arranged on the third frame part, and the fourth slide being arranged on the fourth frame part, - it being possible for the first slide to be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the first frame part, - it being possible for the second slide to be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the second frame part, - it being possible for the third slide to be moved in the transverse direction relative to the third frame part, and - it being possible for the fourth slide to be moved in the transverse direction relative to the fourth frame part, characterized in that the first slide can additionally be moved translationally relative to the first frame part in the vertical direction from a waiting position, in which the first slide is situated above the article layer in the vertical direction, into a working position, in which the first slide is situated at the level of the article layer in the vertical direction. a compressing apparatus which has a peripheral closed frame, at least one slide (61, 62, 63, 64) which can be moved in a horizontal direction being arranged on the frame, and a depositing device which defines a transport surface for transporting article layers, the frame surrounding an opening which is continuous in a vertical direction, it being possible for the depositing device to be moved relative to the compressing apparatus in the longitudinal direction between a first longitudinal position, in which the transport surface is arranged offset with respect to the frame in a longitudinal direction, and a second longitudinal position, in which a projection of the continuous opening in the vertical direction lies on the transport surface, and the compressing device, which comprises a first slide, a second slide, a third slide and a fourth slide which are arranged at the same height in a working position in the vertical direction, and the depositing device being arranged on a lifting apparatus such that they can be moved in the vertical direction, the frame having a rectangular cross section for frame parts (71, 72, 73, 74), and a slide (61, 62, 63, 64) being arranged on each of the frame parts (71, 72, 73, 74), the first slide being arranged on the first frame part, the second slide being arranged on the second frame part, the third slide being arranged on the third frame part, and the fourth slide being arranged on the fourth frame part, - it being possible for the first slide to be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the first frame part, - it being possible for the second slide to be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the second frame part, - it being possible for the third slide to be moved in the transverse direction relative to the third frame part, and - it being possible for the fourth slide to be moved in the transverse direction relative to the fourth frame part, - it being possible for the first slide to be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the first frame part, - it being possible for the second slide to be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the second frame part, - it being possible for the third slide to be moved in the transverse direction relative to the third frame part, and - it being possible for the fourth slide to be moved in the transverse direction relative to the fourth frame part, characterized in that the first slide can additionally be moved translationally relative to the first frame part in the vertical direction from a waiting position, in which the first slide is situated above the article layer in the vertical direction, into a working position, in which the first slide is situated at the level of the article layer in the vertical direction.