Electromagnetic actuator components include a magnetic core, a conductor assembled with the core and defining a winding completing a number of turns, and a movable component that may be displaced by a magnetic field. The conductor is fabricated from a composite material including carbon nanotubes having an improved conductivity. The conductor has a cross section defined by an effective diameter. The conductor is fabricated to have performance parameters that are selected in view of a function of a ratio of conductivity and/or a function of a ratio of effective diameter of the composite conductor material relative to a reference conductor material as conventionally used in an electromagnetic actuator fabrication.