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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 February 11, 2003. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press release relating to an incident on January 29, 2003 at the Company's
Kinston, North Carolina plant. The press release issued in connection with this
incident is filed as exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by
reference.

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

        (c) Exhibits:

                  EXHIBIT #        DESCRIPTION

                  99.1             Press Release dated February 11, 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 13, 2003                      By:
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                  Name: John R. Gailey III
                                                  Title: Vice President





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  99.1               Press Release dated February 11, 2003