Abstract: A permanent magnet-type lifting device for lifting heavy steel articles or the like in which a magnetic assembly of ferrite magnets stacked to form a single unit between pole pieces of a magnetically permeable material is rotatably disposed between plural magnetic member magnetically isolated from one another. In a preferred embodiment, plural rotated assemblies are provided and are mechanically linked through a common rotation mechanism. The magnetic member have an attracting surface and an inclined portion extending toward the attracting portion.