Linear actuators

Electric rod and rodless actuators that turn rotary motor motion into controlled linear force and position. Tell us the application and we'll specify the right product, and the parts around it, for your machine.

Specify linear actuators →Ask an engineer

What we need to know to specify linear actuators

These are the questions an applications engineer works through first. Approximate answers are fine: ranges narrow the options quickly, and we confirm the details with you.

Force: Under 500 N, 0.5–5 kN, 5–25 kN, 25–100 kN, Over 100 kN
Stroke: Under 100 mm, 100–300 mm, 300–1,000 mm, Over 1,000 mm
Speed: Under 50 mm/s, 50–250 mm/s, 250–1,000 mm/s, Over 1 m/s
Duty: Occasional, Up to 50%, Continuous
Replacing: New design, Hydraulic cylinder, Pneumatic cylinder

We also ask about the environment (washdown, outdoor, subsea, ATEX, vacuum, shock and EMC), annual quantities and timescale, because these decide whether a standard, modified or custom design is the best fit.

78 series compared

Series from 8 manufacturers, grouped by type. Figures are the highest published for each series. Open a series for the full specification and, for brands outside our supply network, the alternatives that meet or exceed it.

Compact actuator (10)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Motion Control Products	G-Series Leadscrew Linear Actuator	6,000 N	400 mm	—
Motion Control Products	GT44 Linear Actuator	6,000 N	400 mm	6 mm/s
Motion Control Products	GD Geared Linear Actuator	2,000 N	300 mm	40 mm/s
Motion Control Products	LA55Z High Speed Compact Linear Actuator	250 N	1,000 mm	150 mm/s
Thomson	Electrak MD	2,000 N	300 mm	52 mm/s
Thomson	Electrak 1 / Electrak 1SP	340 N	150 mm	75 mm/s
Thomson	Electrak 050 (E050)	510 N	200 mm	48 mm/s
Thomson	Max Jac	800 N	300 mm	60 mm/s
Thomson	WhisperTrakdiscontinued	4,000 N	500 mm	11 mm/s
Thomson	MLA motorized lead screw actuator (stepper motor linear actuators)	—	—	—

Rod actuator (9)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Tolomatic	ERD (incl. ERD-SS1 / ERD-SS2 stainless options)	2,224 N	610 mm	1,016 mm/s
Tolomatic	RSA-ST (standard thrust)	17,917 N	1,524 mm	3,124 mm/s
Tolomatic	GSA Guided Screw Actuator	4,226 N	914 mm	3,124 mm/s
Motion Control Products	SRB Linear Servo Actuator	49,033 N	1,000 mm	1,250 mm/s
Thomson	Electrak HD	16,000 N	1,000 mm	71 mm/s
Thomson	Electrak XD	25,000 N	1,200 mm	75 mm/s
Thomson	Electrak 10legacy	6,800 N	610 mm	61 mm/s
Thomson	Warner Linear B-Track K2	12,460 N	610 mm	73 mm/s
Thomson	PC Series precision linear actuators	6,000 N	1,200 mm	1,660 mm/s

Roller screw actuator (7)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Tolomatic	RSA-HT (high thrust)	58,000 N	1,524 mm	3,124 mm/s
Tolomatic	RSX Extreme Force	294,000 N	1,500 mm	760 mm/s
Tolomatic	SWA/B Resistance Spot Welding and GSWA	24,500 N	457 mm	610 mm/s
Exlar	FTX Series	177,900 N	1,200 mm	1,500 mm/s
Exlar	FTP Series (press actuator)	355,800 N	900 mm	401 mm/s
Exlar	KX Series	15,600 N	1,200 mm	833 mm/s
Exlar	FT Serieslegacy	177,900 N	1,219 mm	1,506 mm/s

Integrated-motor actuator (7)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Tolomatic	IMA Integrated Motor Actuator	30,600 N	457 mm	1,334 mm/s
Exlar	GTX Series	30,784 N	450 mm	1,270 mm/s
Exlar	GTW Series (weld gun actuator)	30,784 N	300 mm	1,270 mm/s
Exlar	GSX Series	51,278 N	457 mm	1,016 mm/s
Exlar	Tritex II T2X (AC linear actuator)	24,020 N	457 mm	953 mm/s
Exlar	Tritex TTX Series	11,800 N	450 mm	847 mm/s
Exlar	Tritex TDX (Tritex II DC linear actuator)legacy	5,293 N	457 mm	847 mm/s

Rodless screw actuator (7)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Tolomatic	B3S Screw-Drive Rodless	12,010 N	4,547 mm	1,524 mm/s
Tolomatic	BCS Rodless Screw (BCS/MCS)	11,700 N	3,048 mm	—
Tolomatic	MXE Screw-Drive Rodless (MXE-S / MXE-P)	19,127 N	3,411 mm	—
Motion Control Products	LE Ballscrew Linear Actuator (semi-sealed)	2,050 N	1,450 mm	1,600 mm/s
Motion Control Products	LEC Ballscrew Linear Actuator (fully sealed)	945 N	1,250 mm	1,250 mm/s
Motion Control Products	BLM Built-in Linear Module	—	1,250 mm	1,600 mm/s
Thomson	WM (POWERLINE) linear units	12,000 N	11,000 mm	2,500 mm/s

Tubular linear motor (6)

Brand	Series	Peak force	Continuous force	Speed
LinMot	P01-23 (incl. P01-23 HP)	138 N	46 N	7.3 m/s
LinMot	P02-23 S (P02-23Sx80F-HP)	67.1 N	24 N	7.3 m/s
LinMot	P01-37 (incl. P01-37 S and HP)	308 N	96 N	6.7 m/s
LinMot	P01-48 (incl. P01-48 HP)	1,020 N	408 N	4.1 m/s
LinMot	P10-54	871 N	270 N	7.1 m/s
LinMot	P10-70	2,720 N	890 N	6.1 m/s

Rodless belt actuator (5)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Tolomatic	B3W Belt-Drive Rodless	1,446 N	14,579 mm	5,080 mm/s
Tolomatic	MXB Belt-Drive Rodless (MXB-U / MXB-S / MXB-P)	1,859 N	10,516 mm	5,080 mm/s
Motion Control Products	LB Belt-Drive Linear Actuator	—	3,050 mm	2,000 mm/s
Motion Control Products	LBC Belt-Drive Linear Actuator (cleanroom)	—	3,050 mm	2,000 mm/s
Thomson	WH (SPEEDLINE) linear units	5,000 N	11,000 mm	10,000 mm/s

Linear stepper actuator (5)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
DINGS'	Captive Linear Stepper Actuator (Electric Cylinder)	2,400 N	63.5 mm	—
DINGS'	Non-captive Linear Stepper Actuator	2,400 N	—	—
DINGS'	External Linear Stepper Actuator	2,400 N	500 mm	—
DINGS'	Kaptive Linear Stepper Actuator	2,400 N	—	—
DINGS'	Stepper Ball Screw Linear Actuator	1,600 N	—	—

Hygienic stainless actuator (4)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Tolomatic	RSH Hygienic Rod Actuator	35,330 N	1,219 mm	500 mm/s
Tolomatic	IMA-S / IMA-ST Stainless Integrated Actuator	11,120 N	457 mm	497 mm/s
Motion Control Products	LA Stainless Steel In-line Actuator (Maritime, LA35M X2)	2,300 N	400 mm	30 mm/s
Exlar	GTF Series	30,784 N	450 mm	1,270 mm/s

Voice coil motor (3)

Brand	Series	Peak force	Continuous force	Speed
Akribis Systems	AVM Standard	340.3 N	95.6 N	—
Akribis Systems	AVM High-Force (AVM-HF)	4,715.2 N	1,111.4 N	—
Akribis Systems	AVA	79 N	26.32 N	—

Ironless linear motor (3)

Brand	Series	Peak force	Continuous force	Speed
Akribis Systems	AUM	16,200 N	1,980 N	5 m/s
Akribis Systems	ACR	—	—	—
Akribis Systems	AWM	3,845.3 N	769.1 N	5 m/s

Iron-core linear motor (3)

Brand	Series	Peak force	Continuous force	Speed
Akribis Systems	AJM	1,409.1 N	446.8 N	5 m/s
Akribis Systems	AKM	12,884.3 N	6,190.1 N	5 m/s
Akribis Systems	AQM	1,243 N	506 N	5 m/s

Piezo motor (2)

Brand	Series
Piezo Motion	RBS Rotary Piezo Motor
Piezo Motion	RAS Rotary Piezo Motor

Linear stage (2)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Tolomatic	TRS Twin Profile Rail Stage	12,590 N	2,200 mm	1,270 mm/s
Tolomatic	TKS Dual Profile Rail Bearing	14,501 N	2,438 mm	1,016 mm/s

Linear-rotary motor (2)

Brand	Series	Peak force	Continuous force	Speed
LinMot	PR01 linear-rotary motors	1,024 N	255 N	3.9 m/s
LinMot	PR02 linear-rotary motors	572 N	220 N	3.9 m/s

Magnet-free linear motor (1)

Brand	Series	Peak force	Continuous force	Speed
Motion Control Products	MMF4 / MMD Magnet-free Track Linear Motor Modules	1,124 N	456 N	—

Inline actuator (1)

Brand	Series	Force	Stroke	Speed
Motion Control Products	LA In-line Linear Actuators	6,000 N	1,000 mm	120 mm/s

Linear motors (1)

Brand	Series	Peak force	Continuous force	Speed
LinMot	MagSpring M01	—	60 N	—

Summarised from manufacturers' published data. Always confirm against the current datasheet; an engineer will check the fit before recommending anything.

Brands

Akribis Systems DINGS'Exlar LinMot Motion Control Products Piezo Motion Thomson Tolomatic

Spec builder

Specify linear actuators

Select every part you need, answer the questions an applications engineer would ask, and see your summary before we ask for any details.

1Products
2Performance
3Environment
4Volumes
5Your spec

Step 1 of 5

Engineer support

Talk to an engineer about linear actuators

Tell us what you need, whether it is this part, an equivalent or a complete axis built around it. An engineer will review your requirements and reply, normally within one working day.

Reviewed by an engineer, not an autoresponder
Like-for-like and better-fit alternatives
Standard, modified and custom options

Prefer to configure it? Use the spec builder.