Method for processing flat workpieces

A method for processing plate-shaped workpieces made of wood or wood substitute materials, in which method the following steps are carried out:

• a) providing a large-format plate (4) made of wood or wood substitute materials, and supplying (P1) the large-format plate (4) to an isolation station (1);
• b) isolating a plate-shaped workpiece (5) from the large-format plate (4) by dividing the provided large-format plate (4) in the isolation station (1), such that cuts are made in the large-format plate (4) by at least one isolation unit (11);
• and
• c) supplying the isolated workpiece (5) to at least one downstream machining station (2, 3), in order to finish the isolated workpiece (5),
• wherein, in step b) at least a portion of the isolated workpiece (5) is provided, by the isolation unit (11), with an alignment portion (5a) for engagement of gripping elements (14, 15), the alignment portion (5a) having at least one reference drilled hole,
• wherein the isolated workpiece (5) provided with the alignment portion (5a) is received by means of the gripping elements (14, 15), an engagement element, or an acquisition element engaging on the alignment portion (5a), following the isolation of the isolated workpiece (5),
• wherein the gripping elements, the engagement element, or the acquisition element comprises a centering or alignment element that engages the at least one reference drilled hole.