A method for combining and aligning packing unit groups, having the steps of supplying, on an allocating conveyor, individual packing units and/or packing unit groups in an abutting relationship, operating a transportation conveyor downstream of the allocating conveyor with a first transportation speed, forming batches of packing units and/or packing unit groups, wherein predefined gaps are created between the batches by controlling the speed of the allocating conveyor in a corresponding manner, and transferring the batches with the gap predefined between them onto a row or layer forming conveyor, wherein the row or layer forming conveyor is operated at a second speed.