Abstract: A method, electromagnetic switch, controller and program product, when energizing an electromagnetic coil to urge a selected shoe into a diverting path downstream of the electromagnetic switch, reverse current flow during at least a portion of the time that the electromagnetic coil is energized to recover energy from the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: A method, electromagnetic switch, controller and program product utilize multiple electromagnetic coils that, whenever it is desirable to divert a shoe, are operated in sequence to urge the shoe into a diverting path downstream of the electromagnetic switch. The multiple electromagnetic coils may also be used in combination with a downstream permanent magnet such that energization of the electromagnetic coils appropriately positions the shoe adjacent the permanent magnet such that the permanent magnet can further urge the shoe towards the diverting path.