An apparatus for manufacturing filters and inserting the filters into single dose capsules for preparing beverages, comprising: a) a punching and forming device for punching material portions from a sheet material and forming the material portions to assume the form of beaker-shaped filters, the punching and forming device comprising a plurality of punching and forming tools, the work positions of neighbouring punching and forming tools being arranged In a first distance to each other; b) an insertion device (150, 160) arranged in a distance of the punching and forming device along a work flow direction for inserting the formed filters into the capsules, the insertion device (150, 160) comprising a plurality of insertion tools (153, 163), the work positions of neighbouring insertion tools (153, 163) being arranged in a second distance to each other; c) a first transport device (175, 176) for accepting a plurality of formed filters from the punching and forming device and transporting the accepted filters to the insertion device (150, 160); d) a second transport device for accepting a plurality of formed filters from the punching and forming device and transporting the accepted filters to the insertion device; whereas the first transport device (175, 176) and the second transport device are movable with respect to each other and the second distance is smaller than the first distance, characterized in that: the work positions of the plurality of punching and forming tools are arranged along two straight lines, the lines being spaced with respect to the work flow direction, whereas the work positions of the punching and forming tools are alternately arranged on a first and on a second of the two lines; the work positions of the plurality of insertion tools (153, 163) are arranged along a straight line, an insertion tool (153, 163) assigned to each of the punching and forming tools, the work position of the assigned insertion tool (153, 163) being arranged in the work flow direction with respect to the work position of the respective punching and forming tool. a) a punching and forming device for punching material portions from a sheet material and forming the material portions to assume the form of beaker-shaped filters, the punching and forming device comprising a plurality of punching and forming tools, the work positions of neighbouring punching and forming tools being arranged In a first distance to each other; b) an insertion device (150, 160) arranged in a distance of the punching and forming device along a work flow direction for inserting the formed filters into the capsules, the insertion device (150, 160) comprising a plurality of insertion tools (153, 163), the work positions of neighbouring insertion tools (153, 163) being arranged in a second distance to each other; c) a first transport device (175, 176) for accepting a plurality of formed filters from the punching and forming device and transporting the accepted filters to the insertion device (150, 160); d) a second transport device for accepting a plurality of formed filters from the punching and forming device and transporting the accepted filters to the insertion device; the work positions of the plurality of punching and forming tools are arranged along two straight lines, the lines being spaced with respect to the work flow direction, whereas the work positions of the punching and forming tools are alternately arranged on a first and on a second of the two lines; the work positions of the plurality of insertion tools (153, 163) are arranged along a straight line, an insertion tool (153, 163) assigned to each of the punching and forming tools, the work position of the assigned insertion tool (153, 163) being arranged in the work flow direction with respect to the work position of the respective punching and forming tool.