NOVELTY - The device comprises a displaceable base plate having a surface extending in the XY-plane, a mask (3) above the base plate in the Z-direction having a recess (5), where the mask and the recess each extend in the XY-plane, a first unit (25) for displacing the base plate in a first direction within the XY-plane, and a second unit (27) for displacing the base plate in a second direction within the XY-plane, where the second direction is not parallel to the first direction. The surface of the side of the base plate turned to the mask has an average roughness of less than 16 mu m.    USE - Device for aligning a surface of an object such as an electrode extending in the XY-plane, where the electrode is useful in membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE - The device is capable of accurately, simply, effectively and economically aligning the electrode on the membrane with high contact surface thus minimizing the space required for the membrane electrode assembly and ensuring rapid, efficient and reproducible production of the membrane electrode assemblies.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The device comprises a displaceable base plate having a surface extending in the XY-plane, a mask (3) above the base plate in the Z-direction having a recess (5), where the mask and the recess each extend in the XY-plane, a first unit (25) for displacing the base plate in a first direction within the XY-plane, and a second unit (27) for displacing the base plate in a second direction within the XY-plane, where the second direction is not parallel to the first direction. The surface of the side of the base plate turned to the mask has an average roughness of less than 16 mu m measured according to DIN 4768. The mask has a recess with 0-10 edges. The units for displacing the base plate in the first and second direction comprise rods and a drive. The rods are connected with the base plate, where the first rod extends in the first direction and the second rod extends in the second direction. The device has a frame (8) with a recess, where the base plate and/or the mask are arranged inside the recess of the frame. The mask is connected with the frame. The frame comprises a unit on its outer side for guiding the drive along the outer side of the frame, where the guiding unit has a gap, which extends itself in the first and/or second directions. The device includes a unit for removing the aligned object. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method for aligning a surface of an object extending in the XY-plane.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a perspective view of a device for aligning a surface of an object extending in the XY-plane.    Mask (3)    Recess (5)    Frame (8)    First unit (25)    Second unit. (27)