An electromagnet composed of a coil, a movable iron core adapted to move on the center axis of the coil, and a stationary iron core provided so as to cover the upper and lower surfaces and the outer peripheral surface of the coil, characterized in that a nonmagnetic protrusion is provided to the stationary iron core on a side where the movable iron core is inserted, the movable iron core is composed of a plunger and a steel plate fixed to one end part of the plunger, an end face of the plunger and the stationary iron core, and the steel plate and the protrusion are opposed in the same direction, and a permanent magnet is arranged in a zone surrounded by the plunger, the protrusion, the steel plate and the stationary iron core.