An automatic needle placement machine (1) and a placement method for needles (4) on needle boards (2) of non-woven needle machines has a holding apparatus (10) for the needle board (2), a needle removal apparatus (12) and a needle placement apparatus (13) for removing and placing needles (4) from and in receptacle openings (3) of the needle board. The holding, needle placement and needle removal apparatuses (10, 12, 13) can be moved and positioned in a linear manner and relative to each other by means of an automatic positioning apparatus (11, 16). The holding apparatus (10) for the needle board (2) has a multi-axis positioning apparatus (11), wherein the needle placement and needle removal apparatus (12, 13) are arranged in a relatively stationary manner on a frame (15) or on a machine frame (8).