Control device for controlling a hydraulic cylinder unit, - wherein the control device comprises a controller which receives, on the input side, a setpoint variable (g*) related to a piston of the hydraulic cylinder unit and an actual variable (g) related to the piston of the hydraulic cylinder unit and establishes a preliminary manipulated variable (u') for a valve control unit of the hydraulic cylinder unit on the basis of the difference (δg) between setpoint variable (g*) and actual variable (g), - wherein a linearization unit is disposed downstream of the controller, said linearization unit multiplying the preliminary manipulated variable (u') by a linearization factor, characterized in that: the linearization unit outputs the preliminary manipulated variable (u') multiplied by the linearization factor to the valve control unit as a final manipulated variable (u) such that the actual variable (g) tracks the setpoint variable (g*) with an adjustment speed, - wherein the linearization unit establishes setpoint values (pA*, pB*) for the working pressures (pA, pB) prevailing on both sides of the piston on the basis of working pressures (pA, pB) prevailing on both sides of the piston and/or working pressures (pP, pT) prevailing on the inflow side and outflow side of the valve control unit and a setpoint piston force to be exerted by the piston, - wherein the linearization unit dynamically determines the linearization factor as a function of an actual position (s) of the piston, the setpoint values (pA*, pB*) for the working pressures (pA, pB) prevailing on both sides of the piston and the working pressures (pP, pT) prevailing on the inflow side and outflow side of the valve control unit. - wherein the control device comprises a controller which receives, on the input side, a setpoint variable (g*) related to a piston of the hydraulic cylinder unit and an actual variable (g) related to the piston of the hydraulic cylinder unit and establishes a preliminary manipulated variable (u') for a valve control unit of the hydraulic cylinder unit on the basis of the difference (δg) between setpoint variable (g*) and actual variable (g), - wherein a linearization unit is disposed downstream of the controller, said linearization unit multiplying the preliminary manipulated variable (u') by a linearization factor, characterized in that: the linearization unit outputs the preliminary manipulated variable (u') multiplied by the linearization factor to the valve control unit as a final manipulated variable (u) such that the actual variable (g) tracks the setpoint variable (g*) with an adjustment speed, - wherein the linearization unit establishes setpoint values (pA*, pB*) for the working pressures (pA, pB) prevailing on both sides of the piston on the basis of working pressures (pA, pB) prevailing on both sides of the piston and/or working pressures (pP, pT) prevailing on the inflow side and outflow side of the valve control unit and a setpoint piston force to be exerted by the piston, - wherein the linearization unit dynamically determines the linearization factor as a function of an actual position (s) of the piston, the setpoint values (pA*, pB*) for the working pressures (pA, pB) prevailing on both sides of the piston and the working pressures (pP, pT) prevailing on the inflow side and outflow side of the valve control unit.