Apparatus for the application of surface treatments on articles, including: a plurality of workpiece-holding spindles, each configured to engage an article being processed; a plurality of trays, each arranged to removably engage a plurality of said spindles; a feeding line carrying devices for moving said trays, and extending along a feeding path; a painting module operatively connected with the feeding line for painting the articles carried by the spindles; a transfer assembly operating on the spindles to pick them up from the trays on the feeding path; characterized by further comprising: a decoration module carrying a handler of said spindles, the feeding path passing near the decoration module; at least one treatment unit (40, 41, 42) operating along the decoration module to apply a decorative treatment to the articles carried by the spindles; wherein the transfer assembly comprises: a first manipulator configured to simultaneously pick up a plurality of spindles from one of said trays; a continuous conveyor configured to receive the spindles from the first manipulator; a second manipulator configured to individually transfer the spindles from the continuous conveyor to the decoration module. a plurality of workpiece-holding spindles, each configured to engage an article being processed; a plurality of trays, each arranged to removably engage a plurality of said spindles; a feeding line carrying devices for moving said trays, and extending along a feeding path; a painting module operatively connected with the feeding line for painting the articles carried by the spindles; a transfer assembly operating on the spindles to pick them up from the trays on the feeding path; characterized by further comprising: a decoration module carrying a handler of said spindles, the feeding path passing near the decoration module; at least one treatment unit (40, 41, 42) operating along the decoration module to apply a decorative treatment to the articles carried by the spindles; wherein the transfer assembly comprises: a first manipulator configured to simultaneously pick up a plurality of spindles from one of said trays; a continuous conveyor configured to receive the spindles from the first manipulator; a second manipulator configured to individually transfer the spindles from the continuous conveyor to the decoration module. a decoration module carrying a handler of said spindles, the feeding path passing near the decoration module; at least one treatment unit (40, 41, 42) operating along the decoration module to apply a decorative treatment to the articles carried by the spindles; wherein the transfer assembly comprises: a first manipulator configured to simultaneously pick up a plurality of spindles from one of said trays; a continuous conveyor configured to receive the spindles from the first manipulator; a second manipulator configured to individually transfer the spindles from the continuous conveyor to the decoration module. a first manipulator configured to simultaneously pick up a plurality of spindles from one of said trays; a continuous conveyor configured to receive the spindles from the first manipulator; a second manipulator configured to individually transfer the spindles from the continuous conveyor to the decoration module.