Abstract: A permanent magnet with a split magnetic flux conductor between the pole shoes serves to attract a magnetizable load to the pole shoes of an electromagnet whose pole shoes constitute extensions of the pole shoes of the permanent magnet and whose split magnetic flux conductor extends between the respective pole shoes in parallel with the other conductor. An armature is movable into the gap between the parts of the magnetic flux conductor of the permanent magnet or between the parts of the magnetic conductor of the electromagnet by a fluid-operated motor or by the application of d-c current of proper polarity to the exciting coils of the electromagnet. The permanent magnet ceases to attract the load to the pole shoes of the electromagnet when the armature is moved into the gap between the portions of the magnetic flux conductor of the electromagnet.