In loading a press, it is desirable to provide a loading device which can be driven independently of the main driving means of the press and which causes a minimum of surface damage to the blanks being loaded into the press. To achieve this, gripper elements are provided which are coupled to adjustable drive systems controlled by a numerical control unit. The gripper elements are capable of motion in at least two planes perpendicular to each other to remove devices from the stack and carry them along a preselected path into a tool chamber of the press.