An airless, solenoid-operated applicator having a high speed non-contact extrusion valve, wherein the time required for opening and closing the plunger assembly of the valve, as well as for the applicator to recycle, is minimized by concentrating an electromagnetic field on pole pieces made of magnetically soft material. The electromagnetic field is generated by a coil having windings with a length substantially equal to the distance between their inner and outer diameter. Further, the dynamic pole has a length relative to the length of the windings since the plunger assembly is spring-loaded within the static pole instead of the dynamic pole. An annealing process may also be performed on the pole pieces, as well as various magnetically conductive and corrosion resistant coatings or platings applied thereto, in order to further enhance the susceptibility of the pole pieces to magnetism.