An apparatus for electromagnetic actuation comprising: a cylindrical housing ; at least two stationary cores fixed to the cylindrical housing ; first, second, third and fourth ring coils (21A, 22A 21B, 22B), wherein the first and second ring coils are located within a first of the at least two stationary cores and the third and fourth ring coils are located within a second of the at least two stationary cores, wherein each of the ring coils is rigidly fixed to its respective stationary core in a pocket that has the same shape as the ring coil; each stationary core having a first outermost diameter and having a first annular portion having a first annular thickness between the outer ring coil and the first outermost diameter and having a second annular portion having a second annular thickness between the outer ring coil and the inner ring coil; a ferromagnetic armature having a second outermost diameter, the ferromagnetic armature concentrically aligned with the at least two stationary cores and configured to move relative to the at least two stationary cores , the ferromagnetic armature having two cylindrical recesses each forming an interior recess wall; the armature defining a first annular portion having a first annular thickness between the cylindrical recesses and a second annular portion having a second annular thickness between the outer cylindrical recess and the second outermost diameter; the first annular thickness of each of the stationary cores being about the same as the first annular thickness of the ferromagnetic armature and the second annular thickness of each of the stationary cores being about the same as the second annular thickness of the ferromagnetic armature. a cylindrical housing ; at least two stationary cores fixed to the cylindrical housing ; first, second, third and fourth ring coils (21A, 22A 21B, 22B), wherein the first and second ring coils are located within a first of the at least two stationary cores and the third and fourth ring coils are located within a second of the at least two stationary cores, wherein each of the ring coils is rigidly fixed to its respective stationary core in a pocket that has the same shape as the ring coil; each stationary core having a first outermost diameter and having a first annular portion having a first annular thickness between the outer ring coil and the first outermost diameter and having a second annular portion having a second annular thickness between the outer ring coil and the inner ring coil; a ferromagnetic armature having a second outermost diameter, the ferromagnetic armature concentrically aligned with the at least two stationary cores and configured to move relative to the at least two stationary cores , the ferromagnetic armature having two cylindrical recesses each forming an interior recess wall; the armature defining a first annular portion having a first annular thickness between the cylindrical recesses and a second annular portion having a second annular thickness between the outer cylindrical recess and the second outermost diameter; the first annular thickness of each of the stationary cores being about the same as the first annular thickness of the ferromagnetic armature and the second annular thickness of each of the stationary cores being about the same as the second annular thickness of the ferromagnetic armature. <EOS>