A handling unit for moving objects in an automated warehouse, comprising a vise-like grip device with two mutually opposite grip blades (13, 14), first movement means for the mutual approach and spacing of said blades (13, 14) and second movement means for the advancement and retraction along a first direction of said blades (13, 14) with respect to a pick-up or release area; - said vise-like grip device being mounted on a supporting plate for picked-up objects, said supporting plate being supported by an assembly for moving the handling unit, - said first movement means comprising a first translation means for the approach of a first blade to a second blade of said two mutually opposite grip blades (13, 14) along an approach and spacing second direction, and means for the rotation of said first blade on an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the first direction and the second direction such that the rotation of the first blade toward the second blade produces a safe and stable grip of the vise-like device on the object to be handled, said rotation means being supported by said first translation means along said second direction, characterized in that: - each one of said blades (13, 14) has, at the free end (17, 18), a sensor (19, 20) for detecting the presence of a body in front of the blade during a step of advancement of said blade, - said handling unit comprising an electronic unit that is interconnected with said sensors (19, 20) for the management of the signals emitted by them, further characterized in that each sensor (19, 20) is of the fiber optic type and in that the flat body of the blade (13, 14) is provided with a longitudinal slot (33, 34) for the accommodation of the corresponding cable (35, 36) of the sensor (19, 20) and in that said electronic unit is connected directly to the control and management board of the electric motor of the second means for the movement of the blades (13, 14) in the first direction. - said vise-like grip device being mounted on a supporting plate for picked-up objects, said supporting plate being supported by an assembly for moving the handling unit, - said first movement means comprising a first translation means for the approach of a first blade to a second blade of said two mutually opposite grip blades (13, 14) along an approach and spacing second direction, and means for the rotation of said first blade on an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the first direction and the second direction such that the rotation of the first blade toward the second blade produces a safe and stable grip of the vise-like device on the object to be handled, said rotation means being supported by said first translation means along said second direction, characterized in that: - each one of said blades (13, 14) has, at the free end (17, 18), a sensor (19, 20) for detecting the presence of a body in front of the blade during a step of advancement of said blade, - said handling unit comprising an electronic unit that is interconnected with said sensors (19, 20) for the management of the signals emitted by them, further characterized in that each sensor (19, 20) is of the fiber optic type and in that the flat body of the blade (13, 14) is provided with a longitudinal slot (33, 34) for the accommodation of the corresponding cable (35, 36) of the sensor (19, 20) and in that said electronic unit is connected directly to the control and management board of the electric motor of the second means for the movement of the blades (13, 14) in the first direction. - each one of said blades (13, 14) has, at the free end (17, 18), a sensor (19, 20) for detecting the presence of a body in front of the blade during a step of advancement of said blade, - said handling unit comprising an electronic unit that is interconnected with said sensors (19, 20) for the management of the signals emitted by them, further characterized in that each sensor (19, 20) is of the fiber optic type and in that the flat body of the blade (13, 14) is provided with a longitudinal slot (33, 34) for the accommodation of the corresponding cable (35, 36) of the sensor (19, 20) and in that said electronic unit is connected directly to the control and management board of the electric motor of the second means for the movement of the blades (13, 14) in the first direction.