An electromagnetic actuator comprising: an outer housing having a central axis; a plunger contained at least partially within the outer housing and configured to move along the central axis, the plunger including an outer layer and a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet both magnets disposed axially in line within the outer layer and arranged such they are magnetized in opposite directions and perpendicular to the central axis; a first core on a first side of the central axis and outside of said outer layer, the first core having a core slot; a second core outside of said outer layer on a second side, opposite the first side, of the central axis, said second core having a core slot; a third core on said first side, the third core having a core slot; and a fourth core on said second side, opposite said first side, the fourth core having a core slot; the two cores on either side of the central axis comprising adjoining sides along the central axis; a first winding passing through the first core and the third core on the first side of the central axis, and a second winding passing through the second core and the fourth core on said second side, such that each winding (360a, 360b) is wrapped around said adjoining sides of said cores on either side of the central axis; and wherein the first core and the second core are arranged such that their respective core slots (322a,322c) form a gap between the first core and the second core between the first and second winding (360a,360b) and the first and second permanent magnets (304a,304b); wherein the third core and the fourth core are arranged such that their respective core slots (322b,322d) form a gap between the third core and the fourth core between the first and second winding (360a,360b) and the first and second permanent magnets (304a,304b); wherein the slots (322a,322b,322c,322d) have a slot opening width (a) measured along the central axis, the first and second magnets each have a magnet height (h) measured along the central axis and each cores has a core height measured along the central axis and wherein: h > a; H> h; and H-h < 0.5H. an outer housing having a central axis; a plunger contained at least partially within the outer housing and configured to move along the central axis, the plunger including an outer layer and a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet both magnets disposed axially in line within the outer layer and arranged such they are magnetized in opposite directions and perpendicular to the central axis; a first core on a first side of the central axis and outside of said outer layer, the first core having a core slot; a second core outside of said outer layer on a second side, opposite the first side, of the central axis, said second core having a core slot; a third core on said first side, the third core having a core slot; and a fourth core on said second side, opposite said first side, the fourth core having a core slot; the two cores on either side of the central axis comprising adjoining sides along the central axis; a first winding passing through the first core and the third core on the first side of the central axis, and a second winding passing through the second core and the fourth core on said second side, such that each winding (360a, 360b) is wrapped around said adjoining sides of said cores on either side of the central axis; and wherein the first core and the second core are arranged such that their respective core slots (322a,322c) form a gap between the first core and the second core between the first and second winding (360a,360b) and the first and second permanent magnets (304a,304b); wherein the third core and the fourth core are arranged such that their respective core slots (322b,322d) form a gap between the third core and the fourth core between the first and second winding (360a,360b) and the first and second permanent magnets (304a,304b); wherein the slots (322a,322b,322c,322d) have a slot opening width (a) measured along the central axis, the first and second magnets each have a magnet height (h) measured along the central axis and each cores has a core height measured along the central axis and wherein: h > a; H> h; and H-h < 0.5H. h > a; H> h; and H-h < 0.5H.