Coating device for coating components with a coating agent, in particular for painting motor vehicle body components with a paint, with a) a printhead for applying the coating agent to the component, and b) a coating agent supply for supplying the printhead with the coating agent to be applied, wherein the coating agent flows at a specific coating agent pressure (p) and a specific flow rate (Q) from the coating agent supply to the printhead , c) a coating agent pump for conveying the coating agent to the printhead , and d) a controller which controls the coating agent pump as a function of the measured coating agent pressure (p) and/or as a function of the measured flow rate (Q) of the coating agent, wherein the controller can be switched between d1) a pressure control mode in which the controller controls the coating agent pressure (p) to a pre-set target pressure, and d2) a flow rate control mode in which the controller controls the flow rate (Q) of the coating agent to a predetermined target flow rate, and e) a control unit , which switches the controller between the pressure control mode and the flow rate control mode, characterized in that f) the control unit switches the controller to the pressure control mode when the printhead is operated in a transient state in which nozzle valves of the printhead are opened or closed, and g) the control unit switches the controller into the flow rate control mode when the printhead is operated in a stationary state in which no nozzle valves of the printhead are opened or closed. a) a printhead for applying the coating agent to the component, and b) a coating agent supply for supplying the printhead with the coating agent to be applied, wherein the coating agent flows at a specific coating agent pressure (p) and a specific flow rate (Q) from the coating agent supply to the printhead , c) a coating agent pump for conveying the coating agent to the printhead , and d) a controller which controls the coating agent pump as a function of the measured coating agent pressure (p) and/or as a function of the measured flow rate (Q) of the coating agent, wherein the controller can be switched between d1) a pressure control mode in which the controller controls the coating agent pressure (p) to a pre-set target pressure, and d2) a flow rate control mode in which the controller controls the flow rate (Q) of the coating agent to a predetermined target flow rate, and d1) a pressure control mode in which the controller controls the coating agent pressure (p) to a pre-set target pressure, and d2) a flow rate control mode in which the controller controls the flow rate (Q) of the coating agent to a predetermined target flow rate, and e) a control unit , which switches the controller between the pressure control mode and the flow rate control mode, characterized in that f) the control unit switches the controller to the pressure control mode when the printhead is operated in a transient state in which nozzle valves of the printhead are opened or closed, and g) the control unit switches the controller into the flow rate control mode when the printhead is operated in a stationary state in which no nozzle valves of the printhead are opened or closed. <EOS>