a process and device for the standardised continuous production of polyamide 6 , polyamide 6 . 6 and / or copolyamides from e - caprolactam and / or adipic acidic hexamethylenediamine or adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine uses a combination of known specific processes to design a polymerisation reactor in which product with sufficiently high quality can be produced with the most efficient possible use of the energy applied and in such a way that the initial substances can be used alternately in the individual processing stages : pre - heating of the initial products using a common heat exchanger to 190 - 300 ° c . ; polymerisation of the initial products in a pressure stage with or without elimination of water and product recycling at 150 - 280 ° c . and a pressure of & lt ; 20 bar , dewatering of the polymer melt in a one to five turn coil under slow pressure reduction ; and final condensation of the melt in at least one common vertical reactor at temperatures of between 210 and 285 ° c .