The present disclosure shows an apparatus for the automated removal of workpieces arranged in a container, having an object recognition device for detecting the workpieces and a gripper for gripping and removing the workpiece from the container and having a control for evaluating the data of the object recognition device, for path planning and for controlling the gripper. In this respect, the apparatus is set up in a modular manner by a handling module and a feed module, wherein the handling module has the gripper kinematics, in particular a robot or an area gantry, and the feed module has an arrangement for providing a container having workpieces.