Abstract: The invention relates to a handling unit for drill rods having an elevator bracket (30) which can be swiveled by means of a tilt arm (34) under the influence of a tilt cylinder (32), and means (42) for detecting a position of the at least one elevator bracket (30), in which is provided at least one valve (50) as means for detecting the position of the or each elevator bracket (30) and as part of a hydraulic switching control circuit (54) which continues outside the handling unit, and at least one connecting member (52) for the at least one valve (50), which connecting member can be moved by a movement of the tilt arm (34), wherein the or each valve (50) opens or closes the hydraulic switching control circuit (54) such that the state of the switching control circuit (54) can be evaluated as position information.