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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 8, 2001


                             ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



 Missouri                           1-10596                       43-1554045
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 (State or Other                    (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
 Jurisdiction of Incorporation)     File Number)           Identification No.)


 8888 Ladue Road, Suite 200, St. Louis, Missouri                  63124-2056
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 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                         (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (314) 213-7200
                                                   -----------------------------


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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         Effective October 15, 2001, Registrar and Transfer Company, of
Cranford, New Jersey, is appointed registrant's new (i) Stock Transfer Agent and
Registrar; (ii) Exchange Agent for the exchange of certificates representing
registrant's common stock trust receipts for certificates representing
registrant's common stock; and (iii) Rights Agent with respect to the preferred
stock purchase rights held by all holders of common stock and common stock trust
receipts under registrant's Amended and Restated Rights Agreement. See press
release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

Exhibit No.                Description of Exhibit

     99.1                  Press release dated October 8, 2001.



                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                          ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.



Date: October 8, 2001                     By:   /s/ Charles J. Kretschmer
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                   Charles  J. Kretschmer
                                                   Senior Vice President and
                                                   Chief Financial Officer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.        Description of Exhibit

99.1               Press release dated October 8, 2001.



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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  PRESS RELEASE



                     ESCO ANNOUNCES NEW STOCK TRANSFER AGENT

         St. Louis, MO, October 8, 2001 - ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE)
today announced Registrar and Transfer Company as its new stock transfer agent
and registrar. The change will be effective October 15, 2001. Located in
Cranford, New Jersey, Registrar and Transfer Company will handle all of ESCO's
stock transfer functions including such services as stock transfers, address
changes, and certificate issue and replacement, as well as other record keeping.

         Registrar and Transfer Company will also become ESCO's new Exchange
Agent for the exchange of common stock trust receipts still held by some
shareholders. Holders of the trust receipt certificates are encouraged to
exchange them for common stock certificates, and should contact Registrar and
Transfer Company to effect the exchange.

         Additionally, Registrar and Transfer Company will become ESCO's new
Rights Agent with respect to the preferred stock purchase rights held by all
holders of ESCO common stock and common stock trust receipts.

         ESCO shareholders will be able to contact Registrar and Transfer
Company toll free at 1-800-368-5948, by email at info@rtco.com, through its
website at www.rtco.com or by U.S. mail at 10 Commerce Drive, Cranford, NJ
07016-3572.

         ESCO, headquartered in St. Louis, is a leading supplier of engineered
filtration products to the process, health care and transportation markets
worldwide. In addition, ESCO is the industry leader in RF shielding and EMC test
products, and also markets proprietary, special purpose communications systems.