A gripping member for gripping a layer of products includes an upper closed wall, a suction plane associated on the lower side of the upper wall, mechanical gripping elements, a lower safety support plane, movable between an open position of disengagement from the gripping area and a closed position at least partially in engagement with the gripping area, and a telescopic chamber, open only toward the bottom. The telescopic chamber is fastenable around the product layer and is connectable to means for generating depression or vacuum, for pneumatically lifting the product layer by means of depression. The telescopic chamber includes a peripheral continuous gripping ring arranged at the periphery of the upper wall and consists of four angular elements and at least four plate-like side elements, which are slidably arranged with respect to the angular elements. The upper wall has adjustable plane dimensions.