Apparatus for treating containers includes a handling device for the containers wherein the handling devices has a movable carrier with which the containers can be moved on a transport path, and wherein the handling devices is assigned at least one handling station, wherein the transport speed of the handling device can be controlled in such a way that the transport speed of the handling device can be synchronised with the transport speed of the transport device and/or a further transport device during transfer and/or discharge of the containers and the transport speed of the handling device can be reduced after the transfer of the containers.