Abstract: An electromagnet used to operate a valve comprises an armature guided in a coil carrying body and equipped with an annular flange projecting into a recess in a buffer body with opposed limit faces to brake the movement of the armature in one direction before abutment of the pole faces and in the other direction a sealing of the valve opening. In the latter braking action the armature does not impact against the sealing surface due to a spring abutment of the valve member against the armature. The new electromagnet achieves a comparatively high degree of switch operation frequencies.