8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 current report

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of earliest event reported: January 29, 2003


                       WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.

               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



     Pennsylvania                   1-8036                      23-1210010
(State of Incorporation)     (Commission File Number)        (I.R.S. Employer
                                                             Identification No.)


       101 Gordon Drive, P.O. Box 645, Lionville, Pennsylvania 19341-0645
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (610) 594-2900
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                      N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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Item 5.       Other Events.

On January 29, 2003, January 30, 2003 and February 4, 2003, West Pharmaceutical
Services, Inc. (the "Company") issued press releases relating to an incident on
January 29, 2003 at the Company's Kinston, North Carolina plant. The press
releases issued in connection with this incident are filed as exhibits 99.1,
99.2 and 99.3, respectively, to this report and are incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 7.       Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
              Exhibits.

           (c)    Exhibits:

                  Exhibit #        Description
                  99.1             Press Release dated January 29, 2003
                  99.2             Press Release dated January 30, 2003
                  99.3             Press Release dated February 4, 2003








                                    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, thereunto duly authorized.


                                              WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.



Date:  February 5, 2003                       By: /s/ J.R. Gailey
                                                  ------------------------
                                                  Name: John R. Gailey III
                                                  Title: Vice President










                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  99.1               Press Release dated January 29, 2003
  99.2               Press Release dated January 30, 2003
  99.3               Press Release dated February 4, 2003

EX-99.1

                                                                   Exhibit 99.1

West Pharmaceutical Services Comments on Plant Explosion

LIONVILLE, Pa.--Jan. 29, 2003--West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST)
confirms that an explosion of unknown origin has occurred today at its
manufacturing plant on Rouse Road in Kinston, North Carolina. The facility
employs 255 people and is used to manufacture syringe plungers and intravenous
(IV) fitments used for drug delivery systems and compounds rubber materials for
distribution to other West manufacturing locations.

According to Don Morel, President and Chief Executive Officer, West
Pharmaceutical Services, "We are obviously stunned by the news of this incident
at our Kinston facility. Our overriding concern lies with the well-being and
safety of our employees, their loved ones and the surrounding community. We are
in the process of gathering information and will issue a more comprehensive
statement when we have the facts to share."

After speaking with West officials today, the New York Stock Exchange
temporarily suspended trading of West stock. No information on the reopening of
trading is currently available.

Based at West's international headquarters in Lionville, Pennsylvania, Morel and
a company crisis management team are traveling immediately to the Kinston
facility to guide West's continuing response to the incident.

About West Pharmaceutical Services

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) is a global drug delivery
technology company that applies proprietary materials science, formulation
research and manufacturing innovation to advance the quality, therapeutic value,
development speed and rapid market availability of pharmaceuticals, biologics,
vaccines and consumer healthcare products. West is the world's premiere provider
of standard-setting systems and device components for parenterally administered
medicines and an emerging leader in the development of advanced formulation
technologies for the transmucosal delivery of drugs. Internationally
headquartered in Lionville, Pennsylvania, West supports its partners and
customers from 50 locations throughout North America, South America, Europe,
Mexico, Japan, Asia and the Pacific and Australia. For more information visit
West at www.westpharma.com.

Certain statements contained in this Press Release that are not historical are
"forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "estimate," "expect," "intend",
"believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those
expressed in any forward looking statement and are dependent on a number of
factors including, but not limited to: sales demand, timing of customers'
projects; successful development of proprietary drug delivery technologies and
systems; negotiation and timing of execution of technology licensing agreements
for the continued development and marketing of drug delivery products;
regulatory approval for, and licensee and market acceptance of, products based
on drug delivery technologies; competitive pressures; the strength or weakness
of the U.S. dollar; variability of pension income; interest-rate fluctuations;
inflation; the cost of raw materials; the availability of credit facilities; and
statutory tax rates.

EX-99.2

                                                                   Exhibit 99.2

West Pharmaceutical Services Provides Update on Plant Explosion

LIONVILLE, Penn.--Jan. 30, 2003--Don Morel, President and Chief Executive
Officer, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) provides the following
update on the explosion of unknown origin that occurred yesterday at its
pharmaceutical rubber manufacturing plant on Rouse Road in Kinston, North
Carolina. The facility employs 255 people and is used by West to manufacture
syringe plungers and intravenous (IV) components and compounds rubber materials
for use in West facilities throughout the United States. Kinston is one of
West's five U.S. rubber compounding facilities, and one of ten worldwide.

"The worldwide West family sends its thoughts and prayers to the victims of this
devastating incident, as well as to their families and loved ones," Morel said.
"We deeply appreciate the outpouring of offers of support and help from people
far and wide, and the continuing efforts of the rescue and recovery teams. Our
primary focus right now is helping those in need, restoring safety to the area
and working with federal, state and local officials to identify the root cause
of this situation."

Injury Toll

"To date, our understanding is that three employees have been confirmed dead
with 27 others injured, including eight in critical condition. We are in
continuing contact with area hospitals and will provide additional information
as we learn more."

Victim and Family Support

"I have personally had the opportunity to meet with members of the affected
families and will be visiting with victims at area hospitals during the day.
West has grief counselors on-site providing the victims and families with
counseling. We are meeting with all Kinston employees today regarding the
medical and salary benefits available to them from the company, as well as
alternative employment possibilities that may exist at other West facilities. We
are also in the process of identifying what might be available in the form of
disaster relief."

Cause of Explosion

"We do not know the cause of the explosion at this time. We are working
cooperatively with local and federal officials in an effort to determine the
cause of this incident and will provide additional information as we get the
facts. This is a process that could take days or longer."

Impact on West Business

"Clearly, the Kinston plant itself is not currently operational. However, while
I and others at West are focused on this catastrophe, our operations and
manufacturing teams worldwide are implementing our disaster recovery plans to
utilize alternate manufacturing facilities and to minimize any possible
disruption to our customers.

In addition, trading of West stock on the New York Stock Exchange has resumed,
effective today, following yesterday's temporary suspension."




About West Pharmaceutical Services

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) is a global drug delivery
technology company that applies proprietary materials science, formulation
research and manufacturing innovation to advance the quality, therapeutic value,
development speed and rapid market availability of pharmaceuticals, biologics,
vaccines and consumer healthcare products. West is the world's premiere provider
of standard-setting systems and device components for parenterally administered
medicines and an emerging leader in the development of advanced formulation
technologies for the transmucosal delivery of drugs. Internationally
headquartered in Lionville, Pennsylvania, West supports its partners and
customers from 50 locations throughout North America, South America, Europe,
Mexico, Japan, Asia and the Pacific and Australia.

Certain statements contained in this Press Release that are not historical are
"forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "estimate," "expect," "intend",
"believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those
expressed in any forward looking statement and are dependent on a number of
factors including, but not limited to: sales demand, timing of customers'
projects; successful development of proprietary drug delivery technologies and
systems; negotiation and timing of execution of technology licensing agreements
for the continued development and marketing of drug delivery products;
regulatory approval for, and licensee and market acceptance of, products based
on drug delivery technologies; competitive pressures; the strength or weakness
of the U.S. dollar; variability of pension income; interest-rate fluctuations;
inflation; the cost of raw materials; the availability of credit facilities; and
statutory tax rates. For more information visit West at www.westpharma.com.

EX-99.3

                                                                    Exhibit 99.3

West Pharmaceutical Services Provides Update on Kinston Plant Status

Lionville, PA, February 4, 2003-- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST)
today provides an update about progress that has been achieved in an effort to
understand and address the cause and impact of the explosion that occurred on
January 29 in one of the two buildings at its plant on Rouse Road in Kinston,
North Carolina.

The severely damaged building hosts the Automated Compounding System (ACS),
where bulk rubber materials are mixed into formulations for molding into medical
device components, as well as a molding and finishing area, where finished
components are produced. The ACS area was most severely damaged in the explosion
and fire and is presumed to be a total loss at this time. Although West's access
to the building has been very limited until today, initial visual observations
by West personnel suggest that damage to the production facility is far less
severe and it appears that a substantial part of the machinery, tooling and
finished inventory may be recoverable.

The ACS at the Kinston plant is the largest of West's five U.S. rubber
compounding facilities, and one of ten worldwide. To ensure the continued
availability of critical healthcare products, rubber compounding requirements
previously handled by the Kinston ACS will be shifted to alternate West
facilities on an interim basis. West is working with its customers and the Food
and Drug Administration to manage the temporary transfer of molding and
finishing operations to other facilities in order to minimize interruptions in
supply.

"We are encouraged by the progress of the work thus far, in collaboration with
our customers, in devising alternate production plans," said Don Morel, West's
President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are additionally encouraged by the
condition of the equipment and tooling in the molding and finishing areas of the
building. In the last two days, our manufacturing and engineering personnel and
technical consultants were able to visit the building to begin evaluating the
damage first-hand. While it is still too early to estimate all of the damage and
effects, our preliminary assessment is that the situation is much more
manageable than we first imagined. We now need to complete a more detailed
assessment.

"It is obviously critical that any work we do in the damaged site can be safely
performed, and we will work with environmental authorities to ensure that this
is the case," Morel continued. "We are pursuing our own investigation into what
happened and we will continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigations by
North Carolina Departments of Labor and Natural Resources, The United States
Chemical Safety Board, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and all local authorities who are investigating
last Wednesday's events."

About West Pharmaceutical Services
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) is a global drug delivery
technology company that applies proprietary materials science, formulation
research and manufacturing innovation to advance the quality, therapeutic value,
development speed and rapid market availability of pharmaceuticals, biologics,
vaccines and consumer healthcare products. West is the world's premiere provider
of standard-setting systems and device components for parenterally administered
medicines and an emerging leader in the development of advanced formulation
technologies for the transmucosal delivery of drugs. Internationally
headquartered in Lionville, Pennsylvania, West supports its partners and
customers from 50 locations throughout North America, South America, Europe,
Mexico, Japan, Asia and the Pacific and Australia. For more information visit
West at www.westpharma.com.






Certain statements contained in this Press Release that are not historical are
"forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "estimate," "expect," "intend",
"believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those
expressed in any forward looking statement and are dependent on a number of
factors including, but not limited to: sales demand, timing of customers'
projects; successful development of proprietary drug delivery technologies and
systems; regulatory, licensee and/or market acceptance of products based on
those technologies; competitive pressures; the strength or weakness of the U.S.
dollar; inflation; the cost of raw materials; the availability of credit
facilities; the timely replacement of fire-damaged production capacity at the
Company's Kinston, NC facility, any related loss of sales and insurance
recoveries for property losses and/or liability to third parties resulting from
that event; and, statutory tax rates.