<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-21
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>y44507ex21.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 21
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1


                        SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

         Listed below, as of October 31, 2000, are the significant subsidiaries
of the Company and their jurisdictions of organization. All of such subsidiaries
are either directly or indirectly wholly owned by the Company. Other
subsidiaries of the Company have been omitted because, considered in the
aggregate, they would not constitute a significant subsidiary.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Jurisdiction of
 Name of Subsidiary                          Organization
 ------------------                         ----------------
<S>                                         <C>
100% Owned
----------
CUNO Europe S.A.                            France
CUNO Pacific, Pty. Ltd.                     Australia
CUNO Filtration Asia Pte. Ltd.              Singapore
CUNO K.K.                                   Japan
CUNO Latina Ltda                            Brazil
CUNO SarL                                   Italy
CUNO GmbH                                   Germany
CUNO Ltd.                                   United Kingdom
Chemical Engineering Corporation            Indiana
</TABLE>
                                       16


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>