A system for emptying a container, e.g. a drum, containing a fluid product, the system comprising: - a pumping unit, comprising: • a pump; • a scraping plate arranged at a first end of the pump and having a through hole at it; • a motor arranged at a second end of the pump. - a pneumatic cylinder operatively active on the pumping unit for moving it inside a container; - a first and a second sensor; - a supply circuit for supplying air to the pumping unit, said air supply circuit being configured to supply air below the scraping plate; - a control unit configured at least to: • activate the pump by means of the motor in response to the detection by the first sensor of a passage of the pumping unit at a first level of the container; • stop the descent of the pumping unit and deactivate the pump in response to the detection by the second sensor of a passage of the pumping unit at a second level of the container, said second level being lower than said first level; • enable the communication between the pumping unit and the air supply circuit after deactivating the pump; • interrupt the communication between the pumping unit and the air supply circuit in response to the detection by the first sensor of a further passage of the pumping unit at the first level of the container, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is operatively active on the pumping unit for exerting at least a first force and a second force of a greater magnitude than the first, said control unit being further configured to: • force the cylinder to exert the first force on the pumping unit after deactivating the pump; • force the cylinder to exert the second force on the pumping unit in response to the detection by the first sensor of a further passage of the pumping unit at the first level of the container. - a pumping unit, comprising: • a pump; • a scraping plate arranged at a first end of the pump and having a through hole at it; • a motor arranged at a second end of the pump. • a pump; • a scraping plate arranged at a first end of the pump and having a through hole at it; • a motor arranged at a second end of the pump. - a pneumatic cylinder operatively active on the pumping unit for moving it inside a container; - a first and a second sensor; - a supply circuit for supplying air to the pumping unit, said air supply circuit being configured to supply air below the scraping plate; - a control unit configured at least to: • activate the pump by means of the motor in response to the detection by the first sensor of a passage of the pumping unit at a first level of the container; • stop the descent of the pumping unit and deactivate the pump in response to the detection by the second sensor of a passage of the pumping unit at a second level of the container, said second level being lower than said first level; • enable the communication between the pumping unit and the air supply circuit after deactivating the pump; • interrupt the communication between the pumping unit and the air supply circuit in response to the detection by the first sensor of a further passage of the pumping unit at the first level of the container, • activate the pump by means of the motor in response to the detection by the first sensor of a passage of the pumping unit at a first level of the container; • stop the descent of the pumping unit and deactivate the pump in response to the detection by the second sensor of a passage of the pumping unit at a second level of the container, said second level being lower than said first level; • enable the communication between the pumping unit and the air supply circuit after deactivating the pump; • interrupt the communication between the pumping unit and the air supply circuit in response to the detection by the first sensor of a further passage of the pumping unit at the first level of the container, • force the cylinder to exert the first force on the pumping unit after deactivating the pump; • force the cylinder to exert the second force on the pumping unit in response to the detection by the first sensor of a further passage of the pumping unit at the first level of the container.