A pick and place device for picking up and re-positioning an article (11) carried by a support surface, comprising a first part which includes a plate portion (8, 8′) which is movable parallel to the support surface so that a leading edge thereof penetrates below the article, between the article and the support surface, and a belt of flexible material (9, 9′) which is wrapped around at least the leading edge of the plate portion so that it is sandwiched between the plate and the article when the former penetrates therebelow and as the plate portion moves below the article there is substantially no relative sliding movement between the sandwiched portion of the belt and the article.