We report on the spark plasma synthesis, sintering and characterization of bulk MgB₂ superconductors prepared according to three processing routes using non-conventional Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS): i) Sintering of a commercially available MgB2 powder ; ii) In-situ synthesis followed by sintering of a mixture of magnesium and carbon-encapsulated nano-boron powder (Mg+2B) ; iii) Synthesis and sintering of a mixture of Mg and MgB₄ powder.  The density of the obtained bulks was up to 98 % of the theoretical density of the material. The highest critical current densities, Jc, at 20K in self-field, 1, 2 and 4 T were equal to 700 kA/cm², 570 kA/cm², 270 kA/cm² and 30 kA/cm² respectively, and were obtained with the MgB₂ sample processed according to the Mg+2B route. The structural characterization and chemical analysis were carried out as well as the superconducting properties. In addition, the functional properties of superconducting MgB₂ cryo-magnets sintered by SPS with the diameter up to 120 mm will be analysed. The levitation forces up to 450 N at 20 K were performed and the potential of MgB₂ superconductors for magnetic levitation of Maglev vehicles will be discussed.