Abstract: The apparatus is primarily intended for use in loading and unloading retort baskets in a cannery where several layers of cans are required to be transported in these baskets according to the factory layout. A system of conveyor belts feeds the cans to or from a position close by the basket loading/unloading station and the cans are transferred by contact with a magnetic pick-up element of the same widthwise dimensions as the basket, which picks up each layer of cans in turn. When the basket is being loaded, a collating barrier is used to form the cans of each layer into approximately the formation required to fit into the basket.