Positioning system including: a positioning device for positioning supporting means for supporting an article, and a supporting means for supporting an article, to be positioned, wherein the positioning device comprises: at least two scales (33, 34, 35) for measuring the position of said supporting means, a base frame on which said at least two scales (33, 34, 35) are mounted, and at least two read heads (31, 32) for reading said at least two scales (33, 34, 35), wherein each one of said at least two read heads (31, 32) is mounted at said supporting means and movable together with said supporting means in a motion direction along a linear line in reciprocating motion, and wherein each one of said at least two read heads (31, 32) is positioned such that at least one read head of said at least two read heads (31, 32) can read one scale of said at least two scales (33, 34, 35), when said at least two read heads (31, 32) are moved together with said supporting means in said motion direction, wherein said at least two scales (33, 34, 35) are arranged spaced to each other in said direction in which said supporting means is movable, or wherein said at least two scales (33, 34, 35) are arranged directly adjacent to each other in said direction in which said supporting means is movable. a positioning device for positioning supporting means for supporting an article, and a supporting means for supporting an article, to be positioned, wherein the positioning device comprises: at least two scales (33, 34, 35) for measuring the position of said supporting means, a base frame on which said at least two scales (33, 34, 35) are mounted, and at least two read heads (31, 32) for reading said at least two scales (33, 34, 35), wherein each one of said at least two read heads (31, 32) is mounted at said supporting means and movable together with said supporting means in a motion direction along a linear line in reciprocating motion, and wherein each one of said at least two read heads (31, 32) is positioned such that at least one read head of said at least two read heads (31, 32) can read one scale of said at least two scales (33, 34, 35), when said at least two read heads (31, 32) are moved together with said supporting means in said motion direction, at least two scales (33, 34, 35) for measuring the position of said supporting means, a base frame on which said at least two scales (33, 34, 35) are mounted, and at least two read heads (31, 32) for reading said at least two scales (33, 34, 35), wherein each one of said at least two read heads (31, 32) is mounted at said supporting means and movable together with said supporting means in a motion direction along a linear line in reciprocating motion, and wherein each one of said at least two read heads (31, 32) is positioned such that at least one read head of said at least two read heads (31, 32) can read one scale of said at least two scales (33, 34, 35), when said at least two read heads (31, 32) are moved together with said supporting means in said motion direction, wherein said at least two scales (33, 34, 35) are arranged spaced to each other in said direction in which said supporting means is movable, or wherein said at least two scales (33, 34, 35) are arranged directly adjacent to each other in said direction in which said supporting means is movable.