A plant for the production of containers made of PET comprises at least one rotary carousel for the production of preforms (2) and at least one zone, in which the preforms are either stored or they may be blown on another rotary carousel. The molded preforms are extracted from the carousel (2) by means of a transfer starwheel (50) provided with grippers (4) capable of performing complex translating-rotating type movements and independent grasping movements. The grippers (4) are provided with two suction jaws (90a and 90b) to make the grasping of the preforms more reliable when they are released from the rotary carousel for the production of the preforms (2).