11-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009

or

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                    to                    

HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN

(Name of Plan)

HARDINGE INC

 (Name of Issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan)

0-15760

 (Commission File Number)

One Hardinge Drive Elmira, NY 14902

(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number including area code: (607) 378-4276

HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN

Documents filed as part of this report:

Financial Statements

Exhibit:

Exhibit 23.    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Signature

SIGNATURE

THE PLAN Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN
	(Name of Plan)
June 28, 2010	By:	/S/ RICHARD L. SIMONS
Date	Richard L. Simons
	President and Chief Executive Officer of Hardinge Inc., Issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan
	and a Member Hardinge Inc. Retirement Plan Committee

HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN

Financial Statements as of

December 31, 2009 and 2008

Together with

Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Advisory Committee of the

Hardinge Inc. Retirement Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Hardinge Inc. Retirement Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  This supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements, and in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

	/S/ BONADIO & CO., LLP
Pittsford, New York
June 22, 2010

HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2008

	2009			2008
INVESTMENTS, at fair value:
Money market funds	$	184,838		$	175,940
Common collective trust	7,268,018			9,241,554
Hardinge Inc. common stock	858,561			670,783
Mutual funds	21,759,754			17,635,614
	30,071,171			27,723,891
Participant loans	801,375			980,002
Total investments	30,872,546			28,703,893
RECEIVABLES:
Accrued income	13			294
Employer contributions	72,446			206,976
Total receivables	72,459			207,270
ACCRUED TRUSTEE FEE	(866		)	(1,922		)
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS AT FAIR VALUE	30,944,139			28,909,241
ADJUSTMENT TO CONTRACT VALUE FROM FAIR VALUE FOR FULLY BENEFIT-RESPONSIVE INVESTMENT CONTRACTS	(157,121		)	120,817
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS	$	30,787,018		$	29,030,058

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2008

	2009			2008
INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS):
Interest and dividends	$	715,889		$	1,116,059
Net appreciation (depreciation) of investments	4,469,307			(11,376,724		)
Participant loan interest	51,925			74,497
Total investment income (loss)	5,237,121			(10,186,168		)
CONTRIBUTIONS:
Employer	90,563			254,311
Participant	1,169,871			1,922,423
Rollover	—			52,126
Other	75			71
Total contributions	1,260,509			2,228,931
PAYMENTS:
Benefits paid to participants	(4,730,159		)	(2,606,412		)
Other	(10,511		)	(15,310		)
Total payments	(4,740,670		)	(2,621,722		)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS	1,756,960			(10,578,959		)
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS - beginning of year	29,030,058			39,609,017
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS - end of year	$	30,787,018		$	29,030,058

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

2

HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2008

1.DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

The following brief description of the Hardinge Inc. Retirement Plan (the Plan), formerly the Hardinge Inc. Savings Plan, provides only general information.  Participants should refer to the Plan and associated Summary Plan Description for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

General

The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all eligible domestic employees of Hardinge Inc. (the Company or the Plan Sponsor).  It is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Eligibility

All employees are eligible to begin salary deferrals upon employment.  Employees hired before March 1, 2004 are not currently eligible for employer matching or non-elective contributions.  Employees hired on or after March 1, 2004 are eligible to receive employer matching and non-elective contributions as of the January 1 or July 1 following the completion of one year of service, which includes at least 1,000 hours of service.

Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in all salary deferrals and employer matching contributions and earnings thereon.  Vesting in employer non-elective contributions is based on years of vesting service.  Participants vest 20% each year after the second year of vesting service and are fully vested after six years.

A partial plan termination occurs when there is a significant reduction in plan participation as a result of an employer initiated action.  In 2009, it was determined that a partial termination of the Plan occurred.  The affected participants were deemed to be 100% vested in the non-elective employer contributions, regardless of the number of years of vesting service.

Contributions

Participants may make voluntary pre-tax contributions in the form of salary reductions up to 100% of their annual compensation, as defined, subject to certain limitations under the terms of the Plan and Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

The Company matches 25% of the voluntary contributions made by an eligible participant hired on or after March 1, 2004, up to 4% of the participant’s current compensation, as defined, for a maximum potential 1% Plan Sponsor contribution.  Additionally, the Company makes a non-elective contribution of 4% of the participant’s compensation, as defined, for all eligible participants hired on or after March 1, 2004.

Effective June 15, 2009, the Company suspended matching and non-elective contributions.

3

1.DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (Continued)

Participant Loans

Loans may be made to participants for a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $50,000, but no more than 50% of the participant’s employee deferral and rollover balances.  The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at rates which are commensurate with local prevailing rates at the time of the loan as determined by the Plan’s Loan Committee.  Typically, the interest rate charged is prime rate plus 1%.  Principal and interest are paid through payroll deductions over a term of five years, except for loans used to purchase a participant’s principal residence, which may be repaid over a time determined to be reasonable by the Plan’s Loan Committee, but no longer than ten years.

Hardship Withdrawals

Hardship withdrawals from the Plan are permitted under certain circumstances.

Benefit Payments

Upon termination of service, a participant may elect to leave his or her funds in the Plan, receive a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the account, or rollover their funds into another plan in accordance with Plan provisions.

2.SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying financial statements of the Plan have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

As required by generally accepted accounting principles, investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value.  However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.  The Plan invests in investment contracts through a common collective trust.  As required by generally accepted accounting principles, the statement of net assets available for benefits presents the fair value of the investment in the common collective trust as well as the adjustment of the investment in the common collective trust from fair value to contract value relating to the investment contracts.  The statement of changes in net assets available for benefits is prepared on a contract value basis.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

Investments are stated at fair value.  Money market funds are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.  The Plan’s interest in the common collective trust is valued based on information reported by the investment advisor using the audited financial statements of the collective trust at year-end.  Hardinge Inc. common stock and mutual funds are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the plan year.  Where quoted market values are not available, the investment is valued at the most recent sales, trade, or current bid price.  Participant loans are valued at their outstanding balance which approximates fair value.  Purchases, sales, and interest income are recorded on a trade date basis.  Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risk.  Due to the level of risk associated with investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investments, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in values in the near term would materially affect participants’ account balances and the amount reported in the statement of net assets available for plan benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for plan benefits.

4

2.SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Fair Value Measurement - Definition and Hierarchy

The Plan uses various valuation techniques in determining fair value.  FASB Accounting Standards Codification 820 (ASC 820) establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the observable inputs be used when available.  Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Plan.  Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Plan’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

·Level 1 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Plan has the ability to access.  Valuation adjustments are not applied to Level 1 instruments.  Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

The Plan’s investments in money market funds, Hardinge Inc. common stock, and mutual funds are valued using Level 1 inputs.

·Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, directly or indirectly.

The Plan’s investments in the common collective trust are valued using Level 2 inputs.

·Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

The Plan’s investments in participant loans are valued using Level 3 inputs.

The availability of observable inputs can vary and is affected by a wide variety of factors.  To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Plan in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.  In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

Administrative Expenses

The Company has elected to pay certain administrative expenses of the Plan which, if not paid by the Company, will be paid by the Plan.

Benefit Payments

Benefit payments are recorded when paid.

Forfeitures

Forfeitures of employer non-elective contributions are used to reduce future employer contributions.  There were no forfeitures used to reduce employer contributions in 2009 or 2008.

5

2.SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Plan’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

3.INVESTMENTS

The following investments represented 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits at December 31:

	2009		2008
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust	$	7,268,018	$	9,241,554
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares	4,742,374		4,173,816
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015	3,190,336		2,617,264
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund	2,003,959		2,180,494
Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares	2,140,484		1,713,493
Vanguard International Growth Fund	1,946,254		1,499,738
Other investments, individually less than 5%	9,581,121		7,277,534
	$	30,872,546	$	28,703,893

The Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated/(depreciated) as follows:

	2009		2008
Hardinge Inc. common stock	$	236,819	$	(2,078,072	)
Mutual funds	4,232,488		(9,298,652		)
	$	4,469,307	$	(11,376,724	)

The following are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of:

Description	Level 1 Inputs		Level 2 Inputs		Level 3 Inputs		Total
December 31, 2009:
Money market funds	$	184,838	$	—	$	—	$	184,838
Common collective trust	—		7,268,018		—		7,268,018
Hardinge Inc. common stock	858,561		—		—		858,561
Mutual funds - bonds	2,003,959		—		—		2,003,959
Mutual funds - domestic equity	8,552,369		—		—		8,552,369
Mutual funds - international equity	2,392,653		—		—		2,392,653
Mutual funds - balanced	8,810,773		—		—		8,810,773
Participant loans	—		—		801,375		801,375
	$	22,803,153	$	7,268,018	$	801,375	$	30,872,546

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3.INVESTMENTS (Continued)

The following are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of:

Description	Level 1 Inputs		Level 2 Inputs		Level 3 Inputs		Total
December 31, 2008:
Money market funds	$	175,940	$	—	$	—	$	175,940
Common collective trust	—		9,241,554		—		9,241,554
Hardinge Inc. common stock	670,783		—		—		670,783
Mutual funds - bonds	2,180,494		—		—		2,180,494
Mutual funds - domestic equity	7,109,234		—		—		7,109,234
Mutual funds - international equity	1,830,437		—		—		1,830,437
Mutual funds - balanced	6,515,449		—		—		6,515,449
Participant loans	—		—		980,002		980,002
	$	18,482,337	$	9,241,554	$	980,002	$	28,703,893

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the Plan’s participant loans measured at fair value using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs during the years ended:

	2009			2008
Balance at beginning of year	$	980,002		$	909,747
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net)	(178,627		)	70,255
Balance at end of year	$	801,375		$	980,002

4.TAX STATUS

The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated March 7, 2000 that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.  The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter.  However, the Plan administrator and the Plan’s tax counsel believe that the Plan is designed, and is currently being operated, in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.

5.PLAN TERMINATION

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to provisions set forth by ERISA.  In the event of Plan termination, all participants will become 100% vested in their accounts and their accounts will be paid to them as provided by the plan document.

A partial plan termination occurs when there is a significant reduction in plan participation as a result of an employer initiated action.  In 2009, it was determined that a partial termination of the Plan occurred.  The affected participants were deemed to be 100% vested in the non-elective employer contributions, regardless of the number of years of vesting service.

Effective June 15, 2009, the Company suspended matching and non-elective contributions.

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6.RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO FORM 5500

Net assets at fair value and changes in net assets available for benefits as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 reported in the financial statements agree with the amounts reported in the Form 5500.

7.PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS

Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (Vanguard) and Chemung Canal Trust Company (Chemung) are the trustees of the Plan.  The Company is the Plan sponsor.  As such, transactions between Vanguard, Chemung, and the Company and the Plan qualify as party-in-interest transactions.  Additionally, participant loans are party-in-interest transactions.

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HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

Schedule I

HARDINGE INC. RETIREMENT PLAN

EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 16-0470200

PLAN NUMBER 002

SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)

DECEMBER 31, 2009

	(b)	(c)
	Identity of Issue,	Description of Investment, Including		(e)
	Borrower, Lessor or	Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral,	(d)	Current
(a)	Similar Party	Par or Maturity Value	Cost**	Value
	MONEY MARKET FUNDS:
	Federated Prime Obligation Fund	Money Market Fund (105,917 units)		$	105,917
*	Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund	Money Market Fund (78,921 units)		78,921
				184,838
	COMMON COLLECTIVE TRUST:
*	Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust	Common Collective Trust (7,110,897 units)		7,268,018
	HARDINGE INC. COMMON STOCK:
*	Hardinge Inc.	156,102 shares		858,561
	MUTUAL FUNDS:
	Brandywine Fund	Mutual Fund (1,059 units)		23,222
	Royce Total Return Fund-Financial Intermediary Shares	Mutual Fund (5,000 units)		54,054
	T. Rowe Price Equity Income Fund Advisor Class	Mutual Fund (10,546 units)		220,945
	Turner Funds: Turner Midcap Growth Fund; Class I Shares	Mutual Fund (45,079 units)		1,249,582
*	Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares	Mutual Fund (46,190 units)		4,742,374
*	Vanguard Explorer Fund	Mutual Fund (1,011 units)		57,948
*	Vanguard Growth Equity Fund	Mutual Fund (22,641 units)		209,881
*	Vanguard International Growth Fund	Mutual Fund (114,553 units)		1,946,254
*	Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund	Mutual Fund (20,194 units)		330,374
*	Vanguard Mid-Cap Value Index Fund	Mutual Fund (21,210 units)		370,113
*	Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Investor Shares	Mutual Fund (47,067 units)		1,293,876
*	Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund	Mutual Fund (47,208 units)		518,342
*	Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund	Mutual Fund (282,081 units)		3,190,336
*	Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund	Mutual Fund (131,444 units)		1,487,947
*	Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund	Mutual Fund (86,086 units)		1,000,318
*	Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund	Mutual Fund (31,515 units)		378,810
*	Vanguard Target Retirement Income	Mutual Fund (8,927 units)		94,536
*	Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund	Mutual Fund (193,619 units)		2,003,959
*	Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund	Mutual Fund (30,978 units)		446,399
*	Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares	Mutual Fund (74,194 units)		2,140,484
				21,759,754
	PARTICIPANT LOANS:
*	Participant loans	Interest Rate Range 4.25% - 9.25%		801,375
				$	30,872,546

*Denotes party-in-interest

**Cost omitted as these investments are participant directed

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule.

9

EX-23

Exhibit 23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Advisory Committee of the

Hardinge Inc. Retirement Plan:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (No. 33-65049) on Form S-8 of Hardinge Inc. of our report dated June 22, 2010, with respect to the statements of net assets available for benefits of the Hardinge Inc. Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, and the related supplemental schedule as of December 31, 2009, which report appears in the December 31, 2009 annual report on Form 11-K of the Hardinge Inc. Retirement Plan.

	/S/ BONADIO & CO., LLP
Pittsford, New York
June 22, 2010