A holding device for lifting and/or moving an article comprising at least one substantially plane outer surface is disclosed. The holding device is designed for mounting on an implement carrier which comprises a carrier part including connecting means so that the holding device can be mounted on the implement carrier and released from the implement carrier, and at least one holding unit which is arranged so that the at least one holding unit in a contact position can come into contact with the article and can grip the article by surface contact between the at least one holding unit and one outer surface of the article to be lifted and/or moved. The carrier part comprises at least one backstop against which the article can rest when the article is to be released from the at least one holding unit, whilst the at least one holding unit is movably mounted to the carrier part so that the at least one holding unit can be moved relative to the at least one backstop. The holding device further comprises at least one actuator for moving the at least one holding unit relative to the at least one backstop.