The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for refining a thread (2) and / or processing a thread (2) into a planar structure. Said device comprises a process section (3) and an unwinding station which is connected upstream of the process section (3) and has a receptacle (11) for a material carrier (4) from which the group of threads (2) can be attracted in a process direction. One would like to be able to make the finishing or processing cost-effective. For this purpose, the receptacle (11) can be displaced transversely to the process direction and has a displacement drive (12), which is controlled by a control device (15).