a container - processing apparatus includes a pasteurizer with plural zones , and a transport element . the zones , which follow one another in a transport direction , include a preheating set , a cooling set , and pasteurizing set . the transport element moves containers through the sets , where they are subjected to a treatment medium at different treatment temperatures . treatment temperatures in zones in the preheating set rise in steps from zone to zone . in the pasteurizing set , treatment temperature is maintained at or above pasteurizing temperature . in the cooling set , treatment temperatures decrease in steps zone to zone . the transport element transports containers in the pasteurizer at a changeable transport speed that is subject to continuous control .