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): November 3, 2005

MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania	1-15579	25-0668780
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

121 Gamma Drive
RIDC Industrial Park
O’Hara Township
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	15238
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 412-967-3000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 3, 2005, the Company issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

Item 9.01. Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Mine Safety Appliances Company Press Release dated November 3, 2005, announcing financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.

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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.

MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
(Registrant)
By	/S/ Dennis L. Zeitler
	Dennis L. Zeitler
	Vice President - Finance

Date: November 3, 2005

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Mine Safety Appliances Company Press Release dated November 3, 2005, announcing financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FROM:	MSA (Mine Safety Appliances Company)
	Ticker: MSA (NYSE)
	Contact: Mark Deasy – (412) 967-3357

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MSA Announces Third Quarter Results

Delay in U.S. Government Funding for Fire Departments Slows North America Sales

Year-to-Date Sales, Earnings Set Record

PITTSBURGH, November 3, 2005 – MSA (NYSE: MSA) today announced that net sales for the third quarter of 2005 were $217.9 million compared with $220.0 million for the third quarter of 2004, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 1 percent. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2005 was down $2.0 million, or 11 percent, at $17.1 million, or $0.47 per basic share, compared with $19.1 million, or $.51 per basic share, for the same quarter last year.

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 were a record $666.1 million, compared with $627.6 million in 2004, an increase of $38.5 million, or 6 percent. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 improved $4.2 million, or 8 percent, to a record $57.6 million, or $1.58 per basic share, compared with $53.4 million, or $1.44 per basic share, for the same period last year.

Strong third quarter sales growth in the company’s International and European segments was offset by lower sales of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in North America that were, in large part, impacted by delays in government funding to U.S. fire departments. Local currency sales in MSA’s International and European segments increased approximately $12.9 million and $2.7 million, respectively, in the third quarter of 2005. Most of the sales growth in Europe was attributable to the company’s German operations and included large contracts for Eastern Europe.

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Growth in sales for MSA International was 51 percent for the quarter and 36 percent year-to-date and earnings increases were commensurate compared to the third quarter and nine-month periods of a year ago. This growth is attributable to strategic sales and marketing investments made in this segment, fine efforts by the MSA International team and good economic growth in almost all of this segment’s major regions. The favorable translation effects of stronger local currencies accounted for approximately $1.5 million of the current quarter sales increase in the International segment.

Third quarter 2005 sales in the North American segment were $19.1 million lower than in the same quarter last year. Several issues, previously disclosed, continued into parts of the third quarter and impacted results, including the delay in U.S. fire department funding made available through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. On a net basis, the shortfall in U.S. SCBA sales accounted for the shortfall in company sales and earnings when compared to the third quarter of 2004. The release of the U.S. federal funding to local fire departments under the AFG program, which in 2004 began in the second quarter, did not begin this year until August 19. This seriously impacted fire department purchases of SCBAs over the quarter and MSA’s level of incoming orders. Shipments of breathing apparatus also lagged orders, but the company is optimistic it will be able to ship this added backlog in the fourth quarter.

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The previously reported constraint in supply of a key Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) component has been resolved, and TIC invoicing improved considerably in the third quarter.

Sales of military gas masks in the U.S. were lower than in previous periods due to the expiration of government contracts, as previously reported. For the quarter, combined shipments of Advanced Combat Helmets and related communication systems stayed at high levels, equivalent to the comparable period of 2004. Sales of commercial gas masks in North America are volatile. While third quarter gas mask orders were low, the company was able to ship significant backlog during the quarter.

North American sales of most other products were strong overall with good growth in many areas led by industrial helmets, MSA Safety Works consumer products and exports.

Net income in the North American segment was down approximately $4.0 million, reflecting shortfalls in both orders and shipments of SCBAs, offset to a considerable extent by significant reductions in operating expenses. In the International segment, net income was up approximately $1.4 million on the previously discussed sales growth, increasing earnings by 62 percent for the quarter and 43 percent for the year-to-date. Net income in Europe was flat quarter-to-quarter, with improved sales and gross margins being largely offset by higher operating expenses, in a traditionally slow business period in that area. Year-to-date, MSA Europe’s earnings are up 75 percent, reflecting improvements in all areas of this business.

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“While we did not achieve our own expectations for this quarter, I am very pleased by our efforts to reduce costs in North America to help mitigate the effects of delayed government funding and am very encouraged by the strong accomplishments in growing the balance of our business,” said John T. Ryan III, MSA Chairman and CEO. “We have long said that our greatest percentage growth opportunities are in International, and our performance there this year is outstanding. Good progress has been made throughout the year in MSA Europe. Our North American business in areas other than the fire service and gas masks has been strong, especially of MSA Safety Works, our growing consumer products entity.”

“Our most significant challenge has been overcoming the delay in U.S. government funding to local fire departments from June through August,” Mr. Ryan continued. “In September and October U.S. incoming orders in SCBAs have recovered somewhat to the rate seen in the full year of 2004. If this continues, our U.S. SCBA sales would exceed 2004 levels by a modest amount. We are very encouraged by recently being the first supplier to receive NIOSH approval for our Safe Escape™ respirator for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents (CBRN) and are working to generate new business in this area.”

“Looking ahead to our fourth quarter, we anticipate an opportunity to convert a significant amount of U.S. commercial backlog into revenue that can enhance our year-end results. We have a positive outlook for the 75 percent of our business that has been meeting goals consistently during 2005, and we will continue to be prudent in our cost containment and Lean Manufacturing activities. I am optimistic that we can show good progress in sales in the fourth quarter and complete the year with record results in sales and operating earnings,” Mr. Ryan concluded.

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About MSA:

Established in 1914, MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of sophisticated safety products that protect people’s health and safety. Sophisticated safety products typically integrate any combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company’s comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in the fire service, homeland security, construction and other industries, as well as the military. Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, gas detection instruments, head protection, respirators and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels. These products are marketed and sold under the MSA Safety Works brand. MSA has more than 30 international locations. Additional information is available on the company’s Web site at http://www.msanet.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Except for historical information, certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including without limitation all projections and anticipated levels of future performance, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those discussed herein. Actual results can be affected by any number of factors, many of which are outside of management’s control. Among the factors that could cause such differences are timing and market acceptance of new products, the company’s ability to fulfill order backlogs, the timing and ability to obtain military contracts, delays in obtaining raw materials, the economic environment and interest and currency exchange rates. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are detailed from time to time in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You are strongly urged to review all such filings for a more detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties. Our SEC filings are readily obtainable at no charge at www.sec.gov, as well as on a number of other commercial web sites.

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Mine Safety Appliances Company

Consolidated Condensed Statement of Income (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except earnings per share)

	Three Months Ended September 30						Nine Months Ended September 30
	2005			2004			2005		2004
Net sales	$	217,879		$	219,962		$	666,051	$	627,566
Other income		742			2,018			3,091		3,482
		218,621			221,980			669,142		631,048
Cost of products sold		136,697			131,588			404,061		372,458
Selling, general and administrative		50,015			53,638			156,671		153,165
Research and development		5,196			5,588			16,856		15,890
Interest		1,333			996			3,942		2,725
Currency exchange losses (gains)		(643	)		(951	)		696		969
		192,598			190,859			582,226		545,207
Income before income taxes		26,023			31,121			86,916		85,841
Provision for income taxes		8,971			12,010			29,310		32,474
Net income		17,052			19,111			57,606		53,367
Basic earnings per share	$	0.47		$	0.51		$	1.58	$	1.44
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.46		$	0.50		$	1.54	$	1.40
Dividends per common share	$	0.14		$	0.10		$	0.38	$	0.27
Average number of common shares outstanding (basic)		36,618			37,127			36,540		37,048

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Mine Safety Appliances Company

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

(In thousands)	September 30, 2005		December 31, 2004
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	65,592	$	76,545
Trade receivables, net		156,890		157,824
Inventories		129,433		124,846
Other current assets		35,218		38,445
Total current assets		387,133		397,660
Property, plant and equipment, net		118,883		123,716
Prepaid pension cost		139,264		131,496
Goodwill		48,023		49,495
Other non-current assets		41,217		31,743
Total		734,520		734,110
Current liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt	$	32,608	$	6,378
Accounts payable		44,966		40,705
Other current liabilities		70,774		79,984
Total current liabilities		148,348		127,067
Long-term debt		53,962		54,463
Pension and other employee benefits		80,116		83,628
Deferred tax liabilities		77,440		76,704
Other non-current liabilities		10,657		14,637
Shareholders’ equity		363,997		377,611
Total		734,520		734,110

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Mine Safety Appliances Company

Segment Information (Unaudited)

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended September 30					Nine Months Ended September 30
	2005		2004			2005			2004
Net sales
North America	$	132,058	$	151,197		$	418,297		$	424,846
Europe		43,415		40,739			137,510			121,795
International		42,406		28,026			110,244			80,925
Total		217,879		219,962			666,051			627,566
Net income
North America	$	11,992	$	16,022		$	42,797		$	44,492
Europe		1,156		1,304			7,765			4,447
International		3,613		2,230			7,923			5,522
Reconciling		291		(445	)		(879	)		(1,094	)
Total		17,052		19,111			57,606			53,367

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