An apparatus for operating at least two tools (100, 105) in a first and at least a second processing area, wherein - in each processing area (110, 115) a number (p) of machining locations (200, 205, 210) is assigned to the respective tool (100, 105), by means of which first components carried by a component web are conveyed along a track through the first and the at least second processing area, wherein - the total number (t) of tools in the apparatus is less than the number (p) of machining locations (200, 205, 210) in each processing area (110, 115), wherein - the track comprises a number (s) of partial tracks (305, 310, 315) which corresponds to the number (p) of machining locations (200, 205, 210), wherein - the tool (100, 105) of each processing area (110, 115) is adapted to couple respective second components to respective first components at each associated machining location (200, 205, 210) in its processing area (110, 115), wherein the tool comprises a component supply for the second components and a receptacle for the component supply, and wherein the apparatus comprises a control unit (400, 405) adapted, in response to a conveying movement of the component web along the track, and to (i) position the tool (100, 105) and the associated receptacle at one or more of the machining locations (200, 205, 210) in its processing area (110, 115), wherein the tool has a needle or a laser, and wherein the positioning comprises moving the receptacle in at least one of an x-direction, a y-direction and a rotational direction, and (ii) actuate the tool (100, 105) to mount a first or second component at the respective machining location (200, 205, 210) such that - in the first area, (i) selected first components conveyed along a first partial path on the component track, and (ii) selected first components conveyed along a second partial path on the component track, are machined by the tool of the first area, and - in the second area, (i) selected first components conveyed along a third partial path on the component track, and (ii) the first components that are conveyed on the component web along the second partial path and are not machined in the first area, are machined by the tool of the second area. - in each processing area (110, 115) a number (p) of machining locations (200, 205, 210) is assigned to the respective tool (100, 105), by means of which first components carried by a component web are conveyed along a track through the first and the at least second processing area, wherein - the total number (t) of tools in the apparatus is less than the number (p) of machining locations (200, 205, 210) in each processing area (110, 115), wherein - the track comprises a number (s) of partial tracks (305, 310, 315) which corresponds to the number (p) of machining locations (200, 205, 210), wherein - the tool (100, 105) of each processing area (110, 115) is adapted to couple respective second components to respective first components at each associated machining location (200, 205, 210) in its processing area (110, 115), wherein the tool comprises a component supply for the second components and a receptacle for the component supply, and wherein the apparatus comprises a control unit (400, 405) adapted, in response to a conveying movement of the component web along the track, and to (i) position the tool (100, 105) and the associated receptacle at one or more of the machining locations (200, 205, 210) in its processing area (110, 115), wherein the tool has a needle or a laser, and wherein the positioning comprises moving the receptacle in at least one of an x-direction, a y-direction and a rotational direction, and (ii) actuate the tool (100, 105) to mount a first or second component at the respective machining location (200, 205, 210) such that (i) position the tool (100, 105) and the associated receptacle at one or more of the machining locations (200, 205, 210) in its processing area (110, 115), wherein the tool has a needle or a laser, and wherein the positioning comprises moving the receptacle in at least one of an x-direction, a y-direction and a rotational direction, and (ii) actuate the tool (100, 105) to mount a first or second component at the respective machining location (200, 205, 210) such that - in the first area, (i) selected first components conveyed along a first partial path on the component track, and (ii) selected first components conveyed along a second partial path on the component track, are machined by the tool of the first area, and (i) selected first components conveyed along a first partial path on the component track, and (ii) selected first components conveyed along a second partial path on the component track, are machined by the tool of the first area, and - in the second area, (i) selected first components conveyed along a third partial path on the component track, and (ii) the first components that are conveyed on the component web along the second partial path and are not machined in the first area, are machined by the tool of the second area. (i) selected first components conveyed along a third partial path on the component track, and (ii) the first components that are conveyed on the component web along the second partial path and are not machined in the first area, are machined by the tool of the second area.