8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    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): AUGUST 16, 2001


                             Commission file number:
                                    000-15760
                                    ---------

                                  HARDINGE INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)




NEW YORK                                                     16-0470200
- --------                                                     ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)


                       ONE HARDINGE DRIVE ELMIRA, NY 14902
                       -----------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

                                 (607) 734-2281
               (Registrant's telephone number including area code)


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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

          On August 16, 2001, Hardinge Inc. issued a press release announcing a
further reduction in their North American workforce. A copy of the press release
is included as Exhibit 99 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated
herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

      (a)   Not applicable
      (b)   Not applicable
      (c)   Exhibits

            99    Press Release issued by registrant on August 16, 2001.


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                                   SIGNATURES

         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.

                                   HARDINGE INC.


AUGUST 20, 2001                    By: /S/ Richard L. Simons
- -----------------                     ------------------------------------------
Date                               Richard L. Simons
                                   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
                                   Officer (Principal Financial Officer)


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EX-99.1

                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS BULLETIN                                 HARDINGE INC.
     FROM:                                     RE:    ONE HARDINGE DRIVE
                                                      ELMIRA, NY  14902
                                                      (NASDAQ: HDNG)

THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD
- -----------------------------
      BSMG WORLDWIDE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AT THE COMPANY:              AT THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD/BSMG WORLDWIDE:
Richard L. Simons            Kerry Thalheim              John McNamara
EXEC VP & CFO                General Inquiries           Analyst Inquiries
- -------------
(607) 734-2281               (212) 445-8437              (212) 445-8435


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------
August 16, 2001

        HARDINGE ANNOUNCES FURTHER REDUCTION IN NORTH AMERICAN WORKFORCE

ELMIRA, N.Y., AUGUST 16, 2001--Hardinge Inc. (NASDAQ: HDNG), a leading producer
of advanced material-cutting solutions, today announced an additional reduction
of approximately 10% in its North American workforce. This action is in response
to the negative impact weak economic conditions has had on domestic demand for
machine tools.

As part of these actions to reduce costs, Hardinge also announced that hourly
factory and office workers will go on short time, with one day off every two
weeks. In addition, salaries will be reduced by 5% for salaried employees and
10% for executives.

J. Patrick Ervin, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented, "These
decisions are never easy, especially given their impact on our employees and
their families. However, it is crucial that we prudently guide Hardinge through
this difficult time, remaining focused on the Company's long-term success. As
the Association of Manufacturing Technology Industry has recently reported,
consumption of machine tools in the U.S. is down by almost 30% through June of
this year from the already very depressed level of the first half of 2000. And
more recent order trends in the summer months have shown no signs of
improvement. Clearly, the continuing low levels of North American manufacturing
activity has depressed the outlook for our job shop customers as well as causing
delays of many worthwhile machinery investments by our other domestic customers.
Furthermore, the strong dollar versus European currencies inhibits our ability
to take full advantage of what has been a robust European market."


Mr. Ervin, continued, "We recognize, as we have in the past, the importance of
responding quickly and appropriately to downward changes in the market to insure
the dependability of our financial performance. These actions, along with normal
attrition and previous workforce reductions, will get our production in line
with industry demand. In addition, we will continue to evaluate steps necessary
to reduce non-employee costs and improve profitability and cash flow, in
particular focusing on improving management of working capital. And we will do
so in such a way that we will be fully prepared to respond to our customers'
needs when the cyclical turnaround begins.

In summary, today's actions reflect our long-time commitment to managing our
profitability, even in bad economic times, by controlling costs while continuing
to maintain our leadership position in this industry. Accordingly, we will
continue to provide the quality of customer service and support we are known for
while also maintaining our substantial investments in new products. On a
consolidated basis, it is important to note that our two European grinding
machine companies continue to do well and that we continue to benefit from our
two decades of experience in the China market," Mr. Ervin concluded.

Hardinge Inc., founded more than 100 years ago, is an international leader in
providing the latest industrial technology to companies requiring
material-cutting solutions. The Company designs and manufactures
computer-numerically controlled metal-cutting lathes, machining centers,
grinding machines, electrical discharge machines and other industrial products.
The Company's common stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol "HDNG." For more
information, please visit the Company's website at WWW.HARDINGE.COM.

THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS STATEMENTS OF A FORWARD-LOOKING NATURE RELATING TO
THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF HARDINGE INC. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE BASED UPON
INFORMATION KNOWN TO MANAGEMENT AT THIS TIME. THE COMPANY CAUTIONS THAT SUCH
STATEMENTS NECESSARILY INVOLVE UNCERTAINTIES AND RISK, AND DEAL WITH MATTERS
BEYOND THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO CONTROL AND IN MANY CASES THE COMPANY CANNOT
PREDICT WHAT FACTORS WOULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
INDICATED. AMONG THE MANY FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER FROM
THOSE SET FORTH IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE
MACHINE TOOL BUSINESS CYCLES, CHANGES IN GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE U.S.
OR INTERNATIONALLY, THE MIX OF PRODUCTS SOLD AND THE PROFIT MARGINS THEREON, THE
RELATIVE SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY'S ENTRY INTO NEW PRODUCT AND GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS,
THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO MANAGE ITS OPERATING COSTS, ACTIONS TAKEN BY CUSTOMERS
SUCH AS ORDER CANCELLATIONS OR REDUCED BOOKINGS BY CUSTOMERS OR DISTRIBUTORS,
COMPETITORS' ACTIONS SUCH AS PRICE DISCOUNTING OR NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS,
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, CHANGES IN THE AVAILABILITY
AND COST OF MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND
CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS. ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN
LIGHT OF THESE FACTORS. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO REVISE ITS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS ALTER THEIR ACCURACY.

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