Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator and an automatic recloser incorporating such actuator are disclosed. The actuator is shown to include a housing, a permanent magnet member, a coil, an armature, mounted to move axially within the housing between first and second positions, and a non-magnetic spacer. The armature, when in the second position, is spaced a distance from the housing by the spacer. The spacer is mounted to stop movement of the armature in the second position. In the preferred embodiment, the permanent magnet member includes a core and a number of magnet segments attached thereto. It is especially preferred for each of the permanent magnet segments to be arcuate shaped and that each segment be polarized substantially radially or in a direction parallel to the center radius of each segment.