8-K

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                       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): DECEMBER 15, 1997


                           DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      OHIO                         1-11781                       31-0676346
(State or other                  (Commission                   (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                  File Number)                Identification No.)
incorporation)

721 RICHARD STREET, MIAMISBURG, OHIO                               45342
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (937) 866-0711

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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Item 5.   Other Events
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         On December 15, 1997, Dayton Superior Corporation (the "Company")
issued the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 20.1.

                                    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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                     DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION


December 15, 1997                    By: /s/ JOHN A. CICCARELLI
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         John A. Ciccarelli
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer











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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                            Description
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(20)                OTHER DOCUMENTS OR STATEMENTS TO SECURITY HOLDERS

             20.1   Press Release issued by Dayton Superior Corporation on 
                    December 15, 1997

EX-20

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                                                                  Exhibit 20.1




                             [DAYTON SUPERIOR LOGO]




                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                     DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION
JOHN A. CICCARELLI                                   721 RICHARD STREET
PRESIDENT & CEO                                      MIAMISBURG, OH 45342
PHONE: 937 866-0711, EXT. 400
FAX:   937 866-9448

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                          DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION
                         COMMENTS ON SYMONS ACQUISITION

     Miamisburg, Ohio -- December 15, 1997. John A. Ciccarelli, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Dayton Superior (NYSE:DSD) today announced:
"Integration of the recently acquired Symons Corporation - which nearly doubled
our sales volume - is proceeding in line with our expectations. Investors should
note, however, that Symons' business is subject to somewhat greater seasonal
variation than Dayton's established core businesses. While we are comfortable
with the IBES estimates of $.07 per share for our fourth quarter of 1997, of
$1.17 per share for all of 1997 and of $1.45 per share for all of 1998, we think
the IBES estimate of $.01 per share for the first quarter of 1998 is high.
Symons rarely earns money in the seasonally depressed January to March period
and, therefore, incremental interest and amortization charges as well as planned
integration expenses will negatively impact the quarter's earnings. We estimate
that the incremental costs generated by this acquisition will be approximately
$.30 per share in the first quarter of 1998. We believe that Symons will add to
Dayton's 1998 earnings beginning with the second quarter."

     Dayton Superior is the largest North American manufacturer and distributor
of metal accessories used in concrete and masonry construction. The company's
products are used primarily in two segments of the construction industry:
non-residential buildings and infrastructure construction projects.

     Symons is a leading North American manufacturer of prefabricated concrete
forming equipment. In addition, Symons Corporation also manufactures a broad
line of concrete accessories and hardware.

                                     # # #

     The Press Release contains certain "forward looking statements" (as defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) involving substantial
risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the risks set forth in
Registration Statement No. 333-37875, general economic conditions affecting the
construction industry.