a method and apparatus for attaching sliders and bottom stops to a slide fastener chain having longitudinally spaced gaps free of fastener elements , in which the chain is conveyed forwardly until a gap is detected . the chain is stopped and the gap area widened . a rotor movable beneath the chain is adapted to carry a slider and is also formed with a die plate portion . the rotor rotates to deliver the slider to the gap , thread the slider onto the fastener elements of the chain , and place the die plate beneath the gap across from bottom stop punch and chain cutter means which then fix a bottom stop to the chain and separate adjacent fastener element ends .