Abstract: A contactor having a separable conduction path, an actuator, a magnetic stator and armature, and a controller, is disclosed. The actuator is in mechanical communication with the separable conduction path, and the magnetic stator and magnetic armature are arranged in field communication with each other and with an excitation coil responsive to a coil current that serves to generate a magnetic field directed to traverse the stator and the armature. The controller has a processing circuit adapted to control the coil current in response to the current and voltage at the coil such that the coil current is controlled in response to the position and closing speed of the separable conduction path prior to the separable conduction path closing during an open-to-close action.