SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

X ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES --- EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the fiscal year ended October 29, 2000

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

--- EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 for the transition period from            to
                                ----------

Commission file number  0-7977
                      ----------

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

         Ohio                                            34-0590250
------------------------                    ------------------------------------
(State of incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

28601 Clemens Road, Westlake, Ohio          44145          (440) 892-1580
------------------------------------      --------       ----------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)     (Telephone Number)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Shares with no par value

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. X

State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant. The aggregate market value shall be computed by reference to the price at which the stock was sold, or the average bid and asked prices of such stock, as of a specified date within 60 days prior to the date of filing. $739,340,000 as of December 29, 2000

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 32,493,422 Common Shares as of December 29, 2000

Documents incorporated by reference: list the following documents if incorporated by reference and the part of the Form 10-K into which the document is incorporated: (1) any annual report to security holders; (2) any proxy or information statement; and (3) any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or
(c) under the Securities Act of 1933.

Portions of the 2000 Annual Report - Parts I, II and IV
Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting - Part III

PART I

Item 1. Business.

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS

General Description of Business

Founded in 1954, Nordson Corporation (the Company) designs, manufactures and markets automated systems that apply adhesives, sealants and coatings to a broad range of consumer and industrial products during manufacturing operations, helping customers meet quality, productivity and environmental targets. The Company also manufactures technology-based systems for curing and surface treatment processes.

Nordson products are used in a diverse range of end markets including:
food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, electronic components, appliances, disposable nonwoven products, telecommunications, home and office furniture and automotive assembly.

The Company's consistent growth is based on a customer-driven strategy that is global in scope. Headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, Nordson markets its products through a network of direct operations in 31 countries throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia, Latin America and Australia. Consistent with this strategy, more than 50 percent of the Company's revenues are generated outside the United States.

Nordson has more than 4,000 employees worldwide and has principal manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, Germany, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Corporate Purpose and Goals

Nordson Corporation strives to be a vital, self-renewing, worldwide organization which, within the framework of ethical behavior and enlightened citizenship, grows and produces wealth for its customers, employees, shareholders, and communities.

Nordson operates for the purpose of creating balanced, long-term benefits for all of our constituencies: customers, employees, shareholders and communities.

Our corporate goal for growth is to double the value of the Company over a five-year period, with the primary measure of value set by the market for Company shares.

While external factors may impact value, the achievement of this goal will rest with earnings growth, capital and human resource efficiency, and positioning for the future.

Nordson does not expect every quarter to produce increased sales, earnings and earnings per share, or to exceed the comparative prior year's quarter. We do expect to produce long-term gains. When short-term swings occur, we do not intend to alter our basic objectives in efforts to mitigate the impact of these natural occurrences.

2

Growth is achieved by seizing opportunities with existing products and markets, investing in systems to maximize productivity, and pursuing growth markets. This strategy is augmented through product line additions, engineering, research and development, and acquisition of companies that can serve multinational industrial markets.

We create benefits for our customers through a Package of Values(TM), which includes carefully engineered, durable products; strong service support; the backing of a well-established worldwide company with financial and technical strengths; and a corporate commitment to deliver what was promised.

We strive to provide genuine customer satisfaction; it is the foundation upon which we continue to build our business.

Complementing our business strategy is the objective to provide opportunities for employee self-fulfillment, growth, security, recognition and equitable compensation.

This goal is met through employee training and the creation of on-the-job growth opportunities. The result is a highly qualified and professional management team capable of meeting corporate objectives.

We recognize the value of employee participation in the planning process. Strategic and operating plans are developed by all business units and divisions, resulting in a sense of ownership and commitment on the part of employees in accomplishing company objectives.

Nordson Corporation is an equal opportunity employer.

Nordson is committed to contributing an average of 5 percent of domestic pretax earnings to human services, health, education and other charitable activities, particularly in communities where the Company has major facilities.

3

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT OPERATING SEGMENT,
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS, AND EXPORT SALES

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, "Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information", Nordson has reported information about the Company's three operating segments. This information is contained in Note 16 (pages 37-38) of the 2000 Annual Report, incorporated herein by reference thereto.

NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Principal Products and Uses

Nordson offers a full range of equipment that moves and dispenses liquid and powder coatings, adhesives and sealants and many high-performance compounds. Nordson also produces technology-based systems for curing and surface treatment processes. Equipment ranges from manual, stand-alone units for low-volume operations to microprocessor-based automated systems for high-speed, high-volume production lines.

A summary of the Company's various products and examples of their uses are as follows:

Adhesive Dispensing and Nonwoven Fiber Systems

Packaging - Automated adhesive dispensing systems for sealing corrugated cases and paperboard cartons, applying product labels, and stabilizing pallets.

Product Assembly - Adhesive and sealant dispensing systems for bonding or sealing plastic, metal and wood products.

Converting - Coating and laminating systems used to manufacture continuous-roll goods in the nonwovens, textile, paper and flexible packaging industries.

Nonwovens - Automated equipment for producing synthetic nonwoven fabrics and applying adhesives, superabsorbent powders, liquids, and fibers to disposable nonwoven products.

Automotive - Adhesive and sealant dispensing systems for bonding and sealing window glass, body panels and structural components used in automobiles.

Coating and Finishing Systems

Powder Coating - Electrostatic spray systems for applying powder paints and coatings to plastic, metal and wood products.

Liquid Finishing - Automated and manual spray systems for applying liquid paints and coatings to plastic, metal and wood products.

4

Container - Automated systems for dispensing and curing liquid and powder coatings that are used in the manufacturing of metal, plastic and other containers.

Advanced Technology Systems

Electronics - Automated dispensing equipment for applying a broad range of fluids including adhesives, epoxies and soldering pastes to assemble semiconductor packages and printed circuit board assemblies. Automated systems for applying protective conformal coatings, solder fluxes and adhesive materials to printed circuit boards and electronic assemblies.

UV Curing - Ultraviolet and infrared automated drying and curing systems for graphic arts, finishing and product assembly operations.

Gas Plasma Treatment - Automated systems that use gas plasma technology to modify surfaces and clean components during manufacturing processes in the medical, electronics and printed circuit board industries.

Nordson markets its products in the United States and fifty-six other countries, primarily through a direct sales force and also through qualified distributors. Nordson has built a worldwide reputation for its creativity and expertise in the design and engineering of high-technology application equipment which meets the specific needs of its customers.

Manufacturing and Raw Materials

Nordson's production operations include machining and assembly. The Company finishes specially designed parts and assembles components into finished equipment. Many components are made in standard modules that can be used in more than one product or in combination with other components for a variety of models. The Company has principal manufacturing operations in Amherst and Elyria, Ohio; Norcross and Dawsonville, Georgia; Talladega, Alabama; Carlsbad, Concord and Monterey, California; Branford, Connecticut; St. Petersburg, Florida; Fairfield and Phillipsburg, New Jersey; East Providence, Rhode Island; Luneburg, Germany; Maastricht, The Netherlands; and Slough, U.K.

Principal materials used to make Nordson products are metals and plastics, typically in sheets, bar stock, castings, forgings, and tubing. Nordson also purchases many electrical and electronic components, fabricated metal parts, high-pressure fluid hoses, packings, seals and other items integral to its products. Suppliers are competitively selected based on cost and quality. Virtually all raw materials Nordson uses are available through multiple sources.

5

An extensive quality control program for Nordson equipment, machinery and systems is supervised by Nordson's vice president of manufacturing.

Natural gas and other fuels are primary energy sources for Nordson. However, standby capacity for alternative sources is available if needed.

Patents and Trademarks

The Company maintains procedures to protect patents and trademarks both domestically and internationally. However, Nordson's business is not materially dependent upon any one or more of the patents, or on patent protection in general.

Seasonal Variation in Business

There is no significant seasonal variation in the Company's business.

Working Capital Practices

No special or unusual practices affect Nordson's working capital. However, the Company generally requires substantial advance payments as deposits on customized equipment and systems and, in certain cases, requires progress payments during the manufacturing of these products. The Company maintains a relatively high investment in inventory to ensure products are available to customers when ordered. This investment reflects Nordson's commitment to customer service, part of its Package of Values (TM).

Customers

The Company serves a broad customer base, both in terms of industries and geographic regions. The loss of a single or few customers would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business. In 2000, no single customer accounted for 5 percent or more of sales.

Backlog

The Company's backlog of orders increased to $131.3 million at October 29, 2000 from $60.2 million at October 31, 1999. All orders in the October 2000 backlog are expected to be shipped to customers in fiscal 2001.

Government Contracts

Nordson's business neither includes nor depends upon a significant amount of governmental contracts or sub-contracts. Therefore, no material part of the Company's business is subject to renegotiation or termination at the option of the government.

6

Competitive Conditions

Nordson equipment is sold in competition with a wide variety of alternative bonding, sealing, caulking, finishing and coating techniques. Any production process that requires the application of material to a substrate or surface is a potential use for Nordson equipment.

Nordson enjoys a leadership position in the competitive industrial application systems business by delivering high-quality, innovative products and technologies, as well as after-the-sale service and technical support. Working with customers to understand their processes and developing the application solutions that help them meet their production requirements also contributes to Nordson's leadership position. Nordson products help customers improve productivity, reduce raw material and energy consumption, lower maintenance costs, improve environmental conditions, and produce better performing finished products. Nordson's worldwide network of direct sales and technical resources also is a competitive advantage.

Risk factors associated with Nordson's competitive position include the development and commercial acceptance of alternative processes or materials and the growth of local competitors serving specific markets.

Research and Development

Investments in research and development are important to Nordson's long-term growth because they enable the Company to keep pace with changing customer and marketplace needs, and they help to sustain sales improvements year after year. The Company places strong emphasis on technology developments and improvements through its internal engineering and research teams. Research and development expenses were approximately $27,222,000 in fiscal 2000, compared with approximately $29,672,000 in fiscal 1999 and $42,640,000 in fiscal 1998. The 1998 amount includes $14,300,000 of acquired research and development.

Environmental Compliance

Compliance with federal, state and local environmental protection laws during fiscal 2000 had no material effect on the Company's capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position. The Company also does not anticipate a material effect in 2001.

Employees

As of October 29, 2000, Nordson had 4,038 employees, including all full-time and part-time employees.

7

Item 2. Properties.

The following table summarizes the principal properties of the Company.

                                     Description                                             Approximate
Location                             of Property                                             Square Feet
--------                             -----------                                             -----------
Amherst, Ohio                        A manufacturing, laboratory                               585,000
                                     and office complex located
                                     on 52 acres of land

Atlanta, Georgia                     A warehouse and office                                     50,000
                                     building (leased)

Norcross, Georgia                    A manufacturing, laboratory                               150,000
                                     and office building located
                                     on 10 acres of land

Duluth, Georgia                      An office and laboratory                                  110,000
                                     building (leased)

Carlsbad,                            Two manufacturing and office                               88,000
California                           buildings (leased)

Dawsonville,                         A manufacturing, laboratory                               103,000
Georgia                              and office building (leased)

Westlake, Ohio                       An office and laboratory                                   68,000
                                     building located on 25 acres
                                     of land

Branford,                            A manufacturing and office                                 46,000
Connecticut                          building (leased)

Monterey,                            A manufacturing, laboratory                                63,000
California                           and office building (leased)

Concord,                             A manufacturing and office                                 28,000
California                           building (leased)

Talladega,                           A manufacturing and office                                 27,000
Alabama                              building (leased)

St. Petersburg,                      A manufacturing and office                                 26,000
Florida                              building (leased)

Elyria, Ohio                         A manufacturing and warehouse                              19,000
                                     building

Luneburg,                            A manufacturing, laboratory                               130,000
Germany                              and office complex

Erkrath,                             An office, laboratory and                                  63,000
Germany                              warehouse (leased)

8

                                     Description                                             Approximate
Location                             of Property                                             Square Feet
--------                             -----------                                             -----------
Maastricht, The                      A manufacturing, warehouse                                 59,000
Netherlands                          and office building (leased)

St. Thibault Des                     An office building (leased)                                45,000
Vignes, France

Tokyo, Japan                         An office, laboratory and                                  42,000
                                     warehouse (leased)

Milano, Italy                        An office, laboratory and                                  41,000
                                     warehouse (leased)

Stockport, U.K.                      An office, laboratory and                                  25,000
                                     warehouse (leased)

Slough, U.K.                         A manufacturing and office                                 25,000
                                     building (leased)

Bangalore,                           An office and warehouse                                    16,000
India                                building

Xirivella,                           An office and warehouse                                    16,000
Spain                                building

Stenungsund,                         A manufacturing and office                                 15,000
Sweden                               building

East Providence,                     A manufacturing, warehouse                                 75,000
Rhode Island                         and office building

Dustable, U.K.                       An office building                                          6,000

Several of these properties are pledged as security for industrial revenue bonds and mortgage notes payable.

Other properties at international subsidiary locations and at branch locations within the United States are leased. Lease terms do not exceed 25 years and generally contain a provision for cancellation with some penalty at an earlier date.

In addition, the Company leases equipment under various operating and capitalized leases. Information about leases is reported in Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 31 of the 2000 Annual Report, incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

The Company is involved in legal proceedings incidental to its business, none of which is material to the results of operations in the opinion of management.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

None.

9

Executive Officers of the Company.

The executive officers of the Company as of December 29, 2000 were as follows:

                         Served           Position or Office With
                           As             The Company and Business
                         Officer         Experience During the Past
         Name             Since             Five (5) Year Period
----------------------   -------    --------------------------------------------
Edward P. Campbell        1988      President and Chief Executive
Age 51                                Officer, 1997.
                                    President and Chief Operating Officer,
                                      1996.
                                    Executive Vice President and Chief
                                      Operating Officer, 1994.

Peter S. Hellman          2000      Executive Vice President, Chief
Age 51                                Financial and Administrative
                                      Officer, 2000.
                                    President and Chief Operating Officer,
                                      TRW, Inc. from 1995 through 1999.

Donald J. McLane          1986      Senior Vice President, 1999.
Age 57                                Vice President, 1986.

Drexel R. Bunch           1986      Vice President, Manufacturing, 1986.
Age 56

Raymond L. Cushing        1995      Treasurer, 1995.
Age 46

Robert A. Dunn, Jr.       1997      Vice President, 1997.
Age 53                                General Manager-Automotive Systems, 1987.

Bruce H. Fields           1992      Vice President, Human Resources, 1992.
Age 49

Mark G. Gacka             1998      Vice President, 1998.
Age 46                                Vice President, Container Systems Group/
                                      General Manager, Electronics Business
                                      Group, 1992.

William D. Ginn           1966      Secretary, 1966.
Age 77

Michael Groos             1995      Vice President, 1995.
Age 49

Dr. Richard G. Klein      1986      Vice President, Corporate Research
Age 58                                & Technology, 1986.

Nicholas D. Pellecchia    1986      Vice President, Finance and
Age 55                                Controller, 1986.

10

PART II

Item 5. Market for the Company's Common Equity and Related Stockholder

Matters.

Market Information and Dividends.

The Company's common shares are listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market. The information appearing under the captions "Dividend Information and Price Range Per Common Shares" and "Stock Listing Information" on page 44 of the 2000 Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Holders.

The approximate number of holders of record of each class of equity securities of the Company as of December 29, 2000 was as follows:

                                Number of
Title of Class               Record Holders
---------------------        --------------
Common shares with no
  par value                      2,561

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The Company incorporates herein by reference the information as to each of the Company's last five fiscal years appearing under the caption "Eleven-Year Summary" on pages 40 and 41 of the 2000 Annual Report.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and

Results of Operations.

The Company incorporates herein by reference the information appearing under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis" on pages 18 through 21 of the 2000 Annual Report.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

The Company incorporates herein by reference the information appearing under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis" on pages 18 through 21 of the 2000 Annual Report and Note 10 on page 33 of the 2000 Annual Report.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The information required by this item appears on pages 22 through 39 of the 2000 Annual Report, incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting

and Financial Disclosure.

None.

11

PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Company.

The Company incorporates herein by reference the information appearing under the caption "Election of Directors" on pages 2 through 5 of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by January 29, 2001.

Executive officers of the Company serve for a term of one year from date of election to the next organizational meeting of the Board of Directors and until their respective successors are elected and qualified, except in the case of death, resignation or removal. Information concerning executive officers of the Company is contained in Part I of this report under the caption "Executive Officers of the Company."

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

The Company incorporates herein by reference the information appearing under the caption "Compensation of Directors" located on page 7, and information pertaining to compensation of officers located on pages 12 through 26 of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by January 29, 2001.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

The Company incorporates herein by reference the information appearing under the caption "Ownership of Nordson Common Shares" on pages 8 through 11 of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by January 29, 2001.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

The Company incorporates herein by reference the information appearing under the caption "Agreements with Officers and Directors" on pages 28 through 30 of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by January 29, 2001.

William D. Ginn, a director and Secretary of the Company, is Of Counsel to Thompson Hine & Flory LLP, a law firm which has in the past provided and continues to provide legal services to the Company.

Messrs. Eric T. Nord and Evan W. Nord, directors of the Company, are brothers.

12

PART IV

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)(1). Financial Statements.

The financial statements listed in the accompanying index to financial statements are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(a)(2) and (d). Financial Statement Schedules.

No consolidated financial statement schedules are presented because the schedules are not required, because the required information is not present or not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the financial statements, including the notes thereto.

(a)(3) and (c). Exhibits.

The exhibits listed on the accompanying index to exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(b). Reports on Form 8-K.

Current report on Form 8-K, dated November 13, 2000, as to the Company's acquisition of EFD, Inc.

Current report on Form 8-K/A, dated January 12, 2001, attaching the required information related to the acquisition of EFD, Inc. including audited financial statements of EFD, Inc. for the three years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income for the nine months ended July 30, 2000 and the year-ended October 31, 1999 and an unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of July 30, 2000.

13

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

NORDSON CORPORATION

Date:  January 26, 2001                  By: /s/ Peter S. Hellman
                                             --------------------------
                                             Peter S. Hellman
                                             Executive Vice President,
                                             Chief Financial and
                                             Administrative Officer



                                             /s/ Nicholas D. Pellecchia
                                             --------------------------
                                             Nicholas D. Pellecchia
                                             Vice President, Finance
                                             and Controller

14

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

/s/ William P. Madar                                        January 26, 2001
--------------------------
William P. Madar
Director and Chairman of the Board


/s/ Edward P. Campbell                                      January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Edward P. Campbell
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Peter S. Hellman                                        January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Peter S. Hellman
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
and Administrative Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)


/s/ Nicholas D. Pellecchia                                  January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Nicholas D. Pellecchia
Vice President,Finance and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)


/s/ William D. Ginn                                         January 26, 2001
--------------------------
William D. Ginn
Director and Secretary


/s/ Dr. Glenn R. Brown                                      January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Dr. Glenn R. Brown
Director


/s/ William W. Colville                                     January 26, 2001
--------------------------
William W. Colville
Director


/s/ Stephen R. Hardis                                       January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Stephen R. Hardis
Director


/s/ Dr. Anne O. Krueger                                     January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Dr. Anne O. Krueger
Director

15

/s/ Eric T. Nord                                            January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Eric T. Nord
Director


/s/ Evan W. Nord                                            January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Evan W. Nord
Director


/s/ William L. Robinson                                     January 26, 2001
--------------------------
William L. Robinson
Director


/s/ Benedict P. Rosen                                       January 26, 2001
--------------------------
Benedict P. Rosen
Director

16

NORDSON CORPORATION

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

ITEM 14(a)(1) and (3), and (c)

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

CERTAIN EXHIBITS

FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 29, 2000

17

NORDSON CORPORATION

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Item 14(a)(1))

                                                                 Page Reference
                                                                 --------------


Data incorporated by reference from the 2000 Annual Report:
        Consolidated statement of income for
          the years ended October 29, 2000,
          October 31, 1999 and November 1, 1998                         22
        Consolidated balance sheet as of
          October 29, 2000 and October 31, 1999                         23
        Consolidated statement of cash flows
          for the years ended October 29, 2000,
          October 31, 1999 and November 1, 1998                         24
        Consolidated statement of shareholders'
          equity for the years ended October 29, 2000,
          October 31, 1999 and November 1, 1998                         25
        Notes to consolidated financial statements                   26-39
        Report of independent auditors                                  39

The consolidated financial statements of the Registrant listed in the preceding index, which are included in the 2000 Annual Report, are incorporated herein by reference. With the exception of the pages listed in the above index and information incorporated by reference elsewhere herein, the 2000 Annual Report is not to be deemed filed as part of this report.

18

NORDSON CORPORATION

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

(Item 14(a)(3))

Exhibit
Number                   Description
------                   -----------
(3)                      Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws

3-a                          1989 Amended Articles of Incorporation
                                 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
                                 3-a to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                 for the year-ended October 31, 1999)

3-b                          1998 Amended Regulations (incorporated herein by
                                 reference to Exhibit 3-b to Registrant's Annual
                                 Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended November
                                 1, 1998)

(4)                      Instruments Defining the Rights of Security
                             Holders, including indentures

4-a                          Instruments related to Industrial Revenue Bonds
                                 (These instruments are not being filed as
                                 exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
                                 The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of such
                                 instruments to the Commission upon request.)

4-b                          Restated Rights Agreement between Nordson
                                 Corporation and National City Bank, Rights
                                 Agent (incorporated herein by reference to
                                 Exhibit 1 to Registrant's registration of
                                 rights to purchase common shares on Form
                                 8-A/Amendment No. 1 filed December 8, 1997)

(10)                     Material Contracts

10-a                         Nordson Corporation 1995 Management Incentive
                                 Compensation Plan as Amended (incorporated
                                 herein by reference to Exhibit 10-a to
                                 Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                 year-ended November 2, 1997)*

10-a-1                       Nordson Corporation 1995 Management Incentive
                                 Compensation Plan - Exhibit 1 for 1998 Plan
                                 Year (incorporated herein by reference to
                                 Exhibit 10-a-1 to Registrant's Annual Report on
                                 Form 10-K for the year-ended November 2, 1997)*

10-b                         Nordson Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan*

19

NORDSON CORPORATION

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

(Item 14(a)(3))

Exhibit
Number                       Description
------                       -----------

10-c                         Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, as
                                 amended October 27, 1988 (incorporated herein
                                 by reference to Exhibit 10-e to Registrant's
                                 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended
                                 October 31, 1999)*

10-d                         Indemnity Agreement (incorporated herein by
                                 reference to Exhibit 10-g to Registrant's
                                 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended
                                 November 3, 1996)*

10-e                         Restated Nordson Corporation Excess Defined
                                 Contribution Retirement Plan (incorporated
                                 herein by Reference to Exhibit 10-h to
                                 Registrant's Annual Report Form 10-K for the
                                 year-ended November 2, 1997)*

10-e-1                       First Amendment to Nordson Corporation Excess
                                 Defined Contribution Retirement Plan*

10-f                         Nordson Corporation Excess Defined Benefit Pension
                                 Plan (incorporated herein by reference to
                                 Exhibit 10-i to Registrant's Annual Report on
                                 Form 10-K for the year-ended November 2, 1997)*

10-f-1                       First Amendment to Nordson Corporation Excess
                                 Defined Benefit Pension Plan*

10-f-2                       Second Amendment to Nordson Corporation Excess
                                 Defined Benefit Retirement Plan*

10-g                         Nordson Corporation Officers' Deferred Compensation
                                 Plan (incorporated herein by reference to
                                 Exhibit 10-j to Registrant's Annual Report on
                                 Form 10-K for the year-ended November 2, 1997)*

10-h                         Employment Agreement between the Registrant and
                                 Edward P. Campbell (incorporated herein by
                                 reference to Exhibit 10-k to Registrant's
                                 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                                 November 1, 1998)*

10-i                         1989 Stock Option Plan, as amended December 20,
                                 1991 (incorporated herein by reference to
                                 Exhibit 10-l to Registrant's Annual Report on
                                 Form 10-K for the year-ended November 3, 1996)*

10-j                         Nordson Corporation 1993 Long-Term Performance
                                 Plan (as amended on March 12, 1998)*


10-k                         1988 Amended and Restated Stock Appreciation Rights
                                 Plan*

20

NORDSON CORPORATION

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

(Item 14(a)(3))

Exhibit
Number                       Description
------                       -----------

10-l                         Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and
                                 William P. Madar (incorporated herein by
                                 reference to Exhibit 10-p to Registrant's
                                 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended
                                 November 2, 1997)*

10-m                         Nordson Corporation Assurance Trust Agreement
                                 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
                                 10-q to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                 for the year-ended November 1, 1998)

10-m-1                       Employment Agreement (Change in Control) between
                                 the Registrant and Edward P. Campbell
                                 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
                                 10-q-1 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form
                                 10-K for the year-ended November 1, 1998)*

10-m-2                       Form of Employment Agreement (Change in Control)
                                 between the Registrant and Officers - excluding
                                 Edward P. Campbell - (incorporated herein by
                                 reference to Exhibit 10-q-2 to Registrant's
                                 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended
                                 November 1, 1998)*

(13)                     Selected portions of the 2000 Annual Report

13-a                         Management's Discussion and Analysis (pages 18
                                 through 21 of the 2000 Annual Report)

13-b                         Consolidated Statement of Income (page 22 of the
                                 2000 Annual Report)

13-c                         Consolidated Balance Sheet (page 23 of the 2000
                                 Annual Report)

13-d                         Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (page 24 of
                                 the 2000 Annual Report)

13-e                         Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity
                                 (page 25 of the 2000 Annual Report)

13-f                         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (pages
                                 26 through 39 of the 2000 Annual Report)

13-g                         Report of Independent Auditors (page 39 of the 2000
                                 Annual Report)

13-h                         Eleven-Year Summary (pages 40 and 41 of the 2000
                                 Annual Report)

13-i                         Shareholder Information (page 44 of the 2000 Annual
                                 Report)

21

NORDSON CORPORATION

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

(Item 14(a)(3))

Exhibit
Number                       Description
------                       -----------

(21)                     Subsidiaries of the Registrant

(23)                     Consent of Independent Auditors

(99)                     Additional Exhibits

99-a                         Form S-8 Undertakings (Nos. 33-32201, 2-82915,
                                 33-18279, 33-20451, 33-20452, 33-18309 and
                                 33-33481)

99-b                         Form S-8 Undertakings (No. 2-66776)



                         * Indicates management contract or compensatory plan,
                             contract or arrangement in which one or more
                             directors and/or executive officers of Nordson
                             Corporation may be participants.

22

Exhibit 10-b

NORDSON CORPORATION

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN


TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                               Page
                                                                               ----
Purpose                                                                         3

ARTICLE 1    Definitions                                                        3

ARTICLE 2    Selection, Enrollment, Eligibility                                 9

ARTICLE 3    Deferral Commitments/Company Matching/Crediting/Taxes              10

ARTICLE 4    Short-Term Payout; Unforeseeable Financial
               Emergencies; Withdrawal Election                                 15

ARTICLE 5    Retirement Benefit                                                 17

ARTICLE 6    Pre-Retirement Survivor Benefit                                    17

ARTICLE 7    Termination Benefit                                                18

ARTICLE 8    Disability Waiver and Benefit                                      18

ARTICLE 9    Beneficiary Designation                                            19

ARTICLE 10   Leave of Absence                                                   20

ARTICLE 11   Termination, Amendment or Modification                             21

ARTICLE 12   Administration                                                     22

ARTICLE 13   Other Benefits and Agreements                                      23

ARTICLE 14   Claims Procedures                                                  23

ARTICLE 15   Trust                                                              25

ARTICLE 16   Miscellaneous                                                      26


DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Effective November 3, 2000

Purpose

The purpose of this Plan is to provide specified benefits to a select group of management and highly compensated Employees who contribute materially to the continued growth, development and future business success of Nordson Corporation, and its subsidiaries, if any, that sponsor this Plan. This Plan shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA.

ARTICLE 1
Definitions

For purposes of this Plan, unless otherwise clearly apparent from the context, the following phrases or terms shall have the following indicated meanings:

1.1 "Account Balance" shall mean, with respect to a Participant, a credit on the records of the Company equal to the sum of (i) the Deferral Account balance, (ii) the vested Company Contribution Account balance,
(iii) the Restricted Stock Account balance, and (iv) the Rollover Account balance. The Account Balance, and each other specified account balance, shall be a bookkeeping entry only and shall be utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to a Participant, or his or her designated Beneficiary, pursuant to this Plan.

1.2 "Annual Company Contribution Amount" shall mean, for any one Plan Year, the amount determined in accordance with Section 3.5.

1.3 "Annual Installment Method" shall be an annual installment payment over the number of years selected by the Participant in accordance with this Plan, calculated as follows: The Account Balance of the Participant shall be calculated as of the close of business on the last business day of the year. The annual installment shall be calculated by multiplying this balance by a fraction, the numerator of which is one, and the denominator of which is the remaining number of annual payments due the Participant. By way of example, if the Participant elects a 10 year Annual Installment Method, the first payment shall be 1/10 of the Account Balance, calculated as described in this definition. The following year, the payment shall be 1/9 of the Account Balance, calculated as described in this definition. Each annual installment shall be paid on or as soon as practicable after the last business day of the applicable year.

1.4 "Base Salary" shall mean the annual cash compensation relating to services performed during any calendar year, whether or not paid in such calendar year or included on the Federal Income Tax Form W-2 for such calendar year, excluding bonuses, commissions, overtime, fringe benefits, stock options, relocation expenses, incentive payments, non-monetary awards, fees, automobile and other allowances paid to a Participant for employment services rendered (whether or not such allowances are included in the Employee's gross income). Base Salary shall be calculated before reduction for compensation voluntarily deferred or contributed by the Participant pursuant to all qualified or non-qualified plans of any Employer and shall be calculated to include amounts not otherwise included in the Participant's gross income under Code Sections 125, 402(e)(3), 402(h), or 403(b) pursuant to plans established by any Employer; provided, however, that all such amounts


will be included in compensation only to the extent that, had there been no such plan, the amount would have been payable in cash to the Employee.

1.5 "Beneficiary" shall mean one or more persons, trusts, estates or other entities, designated in accordance with Article 9, that are entitled to receive benefits under this Plan upon the death of a Participant.

1.6 "Beneficiary Designation Form" shall mean the form established from time to time by the Committee that a Participant completes, signs and returns to the Committee to designate one or more Beneficiaries.

1.7 "Board" shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

1.8 "Bonus" shall mean any compensation relating to services performed during any calendar year(s), whether or not paid in a calendar year or included on the Federal Income Tax Form W-2 for a calendar year, payable to a Participant as an Employee under any Employer's bonus or cash compensation incentive plans, excluding stock options and restricted stock.

1.9 "Change in Control" shall mean an event described below occurring at any time after the date of the adoption of this Plan:

(i) any person (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan or employee stock ownership plan of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed, or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or together with any of its Affiliates or Associates, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, or any such Person commences or publicly announces an intent to commence a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (provided, however, that, for purposes of determining whether Eric T. Nord or Evan W. Nord, together with each of their Affiliates or Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Walter G. Nord trust, by the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor to the Nord Family Foundation), and by the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation shall be excluded; for purposes of determining whether the Walter G. Nord Trust, the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor), or the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, together with each of their Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by Eric T. Nord and by Evan W. Nord shall be excluded; for purposes of determining whether the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor), together with its Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation will be excluded; and, for purposes of determining whether the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, together with its Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor) will be excluded. For purposes of this Section 1.11, the terms "Affiliates," "Associates," "Beneficial Owner," and "Person" will have the meanings given to them in the Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of November 7, 1997, between the Company and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, as amended from time to time.


                  (ii) At any time during a period of 24 consecutive months,
         individuals who were directors of the Company at the beginning of the
         period no longer constitute a majority of the members of the Board,
         unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Company's
         shareholders, of each director who was not a director at the beginning
         of the period is approved by at least a majority of the directors who
         were members of the Board at the time of the election or nomination and
         were directors at the beginning of the period.

                  (iii) A record date is established for determining
         shareholders entitled to vote upon (A) a merge or consolidation of the
         Company with another corporation in which the Company is not the
         surviving or continuing corporation or in which all or part of the
         outstanding Common Shares are to be converted into or exchanged for
         cash, securities, or other property, (B) a sale or other disposition of
         all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (C) the
         dissolution of the Company.

                  (iv) Any person who proposes to make a "control share
         acquisition" of the Company, within the meaning of the applicable
         Section of the Ohio General Corporation Law, submits or is required to
         submit an acquiring person statement to the Company.

1.10     "Claimant" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.1.

1.11     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be
         amended from time to time.

1.12     "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of
         Directors of the Company.

1.13     "Company" shall mean Nordson Corporation, an Ohio corporation, and any
         successor to all or substantially all of the Company's assets or
         business.

1.14     "Company Contribution Account" shall mean (i) the sum of the
         Participant's Annual Company Contribution Amounts, plus (ii) amounts
         credited in accordance with all the applicable crediting provisions of
         this Plan that relate to the Participant's Company Contribution
         Account, less (iii) all distributions made to the Participant or his or
         her Beneficiary pursuant to this Plan that relate to the Participant's
         Company Contribution Account.

1.15     "Deduction Limitation" shall mean the following described limitation on
         a benefit that may otherwise be distributable pursuant to the
         provisions of this Plan. Except as otherwise provided, this limitation
         shall be applied to all distributions that are "subject to the
         Deduction Limitation" under this Plan. If an Employer determines in
         good faith prior to a Change in Control that there is a reasonable
         likelihood that any compensation paid to a Participant for a taxable
         year of the Employer would not be deductible by the Employer solely by
         reason of the limitation under Code Section 162(m), then to the extent
         deemed necessary by the Employer to ensure that the entire amount of
         any distribution to the Participant pursuant to this Plan prior to the
         Change in Control is deductible, the Employer may defer all or any
         portion of a distribution under this Plan. Any amounts deferred
         pursuant to this limitation shall continue to be credited/debited with
         additional amounts in accordance with Section 3.10 below, even if such
         amount is being paid out in installments. The amounts so deferred and
         amounts credited thereon shall be distributed to the Participant or his


         or her Beneficiary (in the event of the Participant's death) at the
         earliest possible date, as determined by the Employer in good faith, on
         which the deductibility of compensation paid or payable to the
         Participant for the taxable year of the Employer during which the
         distribution is made will not be limited by Section 162(m), or if
         earlier, the effective date of a Change in Control. Notwithstanding
         anything to the contrary in this Plan, the Deduction Limitation shall
         not apply to any distributions made after a Change in Control.

1.16     "Deferral Account" shall mean (i) the sum of all of a Participant's
         Deferral Amounts, plus (ii) amounts credited in accordance with all the
         applicable crediting provisions of this Plan that relate to the
         Participant's Deferral Account, less (iii) all distributions made to
         the Participant or his or her Beneficiary pursuant to this Plan that
         relate to his or her Deferral Account.

1.17     " Deferral Amount" shall mean that portion of a Participant's Base
         Salary and Bonus that a Participant elects to have, and is deferred, in
         accordance with Article 3, for any one Plan Year. In the event of a
         Participant's Retirement, Disability (if deferrals cease in accordance
         with Section 8.1), death or a Termination of Employment prior to the
         end of a Plan Year, such year's Deferral Amount shall be the actual
         amount withheld prior to such event.

1.18     "Disability" shall mean a period of disability during which a
         Participant qualifies for permanent disability benefits under the
         Participant's Employer's long-term disability plan, or, if a
         Participant does not participate in such a plan, a period of disability
         during which the Participant would have qualified for permanent
         disability benefits under such a plan had the Participant been a
         participant in such a plan, as determined in the sole discretion of the
         Committee. If the Participant's Employer does not sponsor such a plan,
         or discontinues to sponsor such a plan, Disability shall be determined
         by the Committee in its sole discretion.

1.19     "Disability Benefit" shall mean the benefit set forth in Article 8.

1.20     "Election Form" shall mean the form established from time to time by
         the Committee that a Participant completes, signs and returns to the
         Committee to make an election under the Plan.

1.21     "Employee" shall mean a person who is an employee of any Employer.

1.22     "Employer(s)" shall mean the Company and any of its subsidiaries (now
         in existence or hereafter formed or acquired) that have been selected
         by the Committee to participate in the Plan and have adopted the Plan
         as a sponsor.

1.23     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
         as it may be amended from time to time.

1.24     "NEST" shall mean the Nordson Corporation Employees Savings Trust Plan.

1.25     "Participant" shall mean any Employee (i) who is selected to
         participate in the Plan, (ii) who elects to participate in the Plan,
         (iii) who signs a Plan Agreement, an Election Form and a Beneficiary
         Designation Form, (iv) whose signed Plan Agreement, Election Form and
         Beneficiary Designation Form are accepted by the Committee, (v) who
         commences participation in the Plan, and (vi) whose Plan Agreement has

         not terminated. A spouse or former spouse of a Participant shall not be
         treated as a Participant in the Plan or have an account balance under
         the Plan, even if he or she has an interest in the Participant's
         benefits under the Plan as a result of applicable law or property
         settlements resulting from legal separation or divorce.

1.26     "Plan" shall mean the Nordson Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan,
         as amended from time to time.

1.27     "Plan Agreement" shall mean a written agreement, as may be amended by
         the Committee from time to time, which is entered into by and between
         an Employer and a Participant. Should there be more than one Plan
         Agreement, the Plan Agreement bearing the latest date of acceptance by
         the Employer shall supersede all previous Plan Agreements in their
         entirety and shall govern such entitlement.

1.28     "Plan Year" shall, except for the First Plan Year, mean a period
         beginning on January 1 of each calendar year and continuing through
         December 31 of such calendar year.

1.29     "Pre-Retirement Survivor Benefit" shall mean the benefit set forth in
         Article 6.

1.30     "Restricted Stock" shall mean shares of restricted stock granted to the
         Participant under the Company's 1993 Long-Term Performance Plan.

1.31     "Restricted Stock Account" shall mean (i) the sum of the Participant's
         Restricted Stock Amounts, plus (ii) amounts credited/debited in
         accordance with all the applicable crediting/debiting provisions of
         this Plan that relate to the Participant's Restricted Stock Account,
         less (iii) all distributions made to the Participant or his or her
         Beneficiary pursuant to this Plan that relate to the Participant's
         Restricted Stock Account.

1.32     "Restricted Stock Amount" shall mean, for any grant of Restricted
         Stock, the amount of such Restricted Stock deferred in accordance with
         Section 3.6 of this Plan.

1.33     "Retirement", "Retire(s)" or "Retired" shall mean, with respect to an
         Employee, severance from employment pursuant to the Nordson Corporation
         Salaried Employees Pension Plan.

1.34     "Retirement Benefit" shall mean the benefit set forth in Article 5.

1.35     "Rollover Account" shall mean the vested account balance that a
         Participant accrued while participating in the Nordson Corporation
         Excess Defined Contribution Retirement Plan (SERP) and which has been
         transferred or rolled over into this Plan.

1.36     "Short-Term Payout" shall mean the payout set forth in Section 4.1.

1.37     "Stock" shall mean the common shares of the Company or any other equity
         securities of the Company designated by the Committee.

1.38     "Termination Benefit" shall mean the benefit set forth in Article 7.

1.39     "Termination of Employment" shall mean the severing of employment with
         the Company or an Employer, voluntarily or involuntarily, for any
         reason other than Retirement, Disability, or death.


1.40     "Trust" shall mean one or more rabbi trusts established by the Company
         or an Employer in accordance with Article 15 of this Plan as amended
         from time to time.

1.41     "Unforeseeable Financial Emergency" shall mean an unanticipated
         emergency that is caused by an event beyond the control of the
         Participant that would result in severe financial hardship to the
         Participant resulting from (i) a sudden and unexpected illness or
         accident of the Participant or a dependent of the Participant, (ii) a
         loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or (iii) such other
         extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of
         events beyond the control of the Participant, all as determined in the
         sole discretion of the Committee.

1.42     "Years of Vested Service" shall have the meaning as that term is
         defined in the NEST.

                                   ARTICLE 2
                       Selection, Enrollment, Eligibility
                       ----------------------------------

2.1      SELECTION BY COMMITTEE. Participation in the Plan shall be limited to
         those employees of an Employer who (i) are officers or key employees of
         an Employer, (ii) received, or would have received but for an election
         to defer compensation under this Plan and any other plan of the
         Company, from the Employer aggregate cash compensation for the prior
         Plan Year (or calendar year for purposes of the initial Plan Year) of
         not less than $100,000, or such higher amount as the Committee may
         decide from time to time, and (iii) are, upon recommendation of the
         President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, approved for such
         participation by the Committee, in its sole discretion,

2.2      ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS. As a condition to participation, each selected
         Employee shall complete, execute and return to the Committee a Plan
         Agreement, an Election Form and a Beneficiary Designation Form, all
         within 30 days (or such other time as the Committee may determine)
         after he or she is selected to participate in the Plan. In addition,
         the Committee shall establish from time to time such other enrollment
         requirements as it determines in its sole discretion are necessary.

2.3      ELIGIBILITY; COMMENCEMENT OF PARTICIPATION. Provided an Employee
         selected to participate in the Plan has met all enrollment requirements
         set forth in this Plan and required by the Committee, including
         returning all required documents to the Committee within thirty (30)
         days (or such other time as the Committee may determine) after he or
         she is selected to participate in the Plan, that Employee shall
         commence participation in the Plan on the first day of the month
         following the month in which the Employee completes all enrollment
         requirements. If an Employee fails to meet all such requirements within
         the period required, that Employee shall not be eligible to participate
         in the Plan until the first day of the Plan Year following the delivery
         to and acceptance by the Committee of the required documents.

2.4      TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION AND/OR DEFERRALS. If the Committee
         determines in good faith that a Participant no longer qualifies as a
         member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees,
         as membership in such group is determined in accordance with Sections
         201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA, the Committee shall have the
         right, in its sole discretion, to (i) terminate any deferral election
         the Participant has made for the remainder of the Plan Year in


which the Participant's membership status changes, (ii) prevent the Participant from making future deferral elections and/or (iii) immediately distribute the Participant's then Account Balance as a Termination Benefit and terminate the Participant's participation in the Plan.

ARTICLE 3
Deferral Commitments/Company Matching/Crediting/Taxes

3.1 MINIMUM DEFERRALS.

(a) BASE SALARY AND BONUS. For each Plan Year, a Participant may elect to defer, as his or her Deferral Amount, a minimum of at least Five Thousand dollars ($5,000) between his Base Salary and Bonus. If an election is made for less than stated minimum amounts, or if no election is made, the amount deferred shall be zero.

(b) SHORT PLAN YEAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant first becomes a Participant after the first day of a Plan Year, or in the case of the first Plan Year of the Plan itself, the minimum Base Salary deferral shall be an amount equal to the minimum set forth above, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of complete months remaining in the Plan Year and the denominator of which is 12.

RESTRICTED STOCK AMOUNT. For Restricted Stock, a Participant may elect to defer, as his or her Restricted Stock Amount, the following minimum percentage of the Participant's Restricted Stock:

------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Minimum
           Deferral                       Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------
        Restricted Stock                      10%
------------------------------------------------------------------

provided, however, that the Restricted Stock Amount shall be no less than the lesser of $20,000 or 100% of the Participant's Restricted Stock.

3.2 MAXIMUM DEFERRAL.

(a) BASE SALARY AND BONUS. For each Plan Year, a Participant may elect to defer, as his or her Deferral Amount, Base Salary and/or Bonus up to the following maximum percentages for each deferral elected:

------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Maximum
           Deferral                       Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------
        Base Salary                          100%
------------------------------------------------------------------
        Bonus                                100%
------------------------------------------------------------------

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant first becomes a Participant after the first day of a Plan Year, or in the case of the first Plan Year of the Plan itself, the maximum Deferral Amount, with respect to Base Salary and/or Bonus shall be


limited to the amount of compensation not yet earned by the Participant as of the date the Participant submits a Plan Agreement and Election Form to the Committee for acceptance.

(c) A Participant may elect to defer up to 100% of his or her Restricted Stock.

3.3 ELECTION TO DEFER; EFFECT OF ELECTION FORM.

(a) FIRST PLAN YEAR. In connection with a Participant's commencement of participation in the Plan, the Participant shall make an irrevocable deferral election for the Plan Year in which the Participant commences participation in the Plan, along with such other elections as the Committee deems necessary or desirable under the Plan. For these elections to be valid, the Election Form must be completed and signed by the Participant, timely delivered to the Committee (in accordance with Section 2.2 above) and accepted by the Committee.

(b) SUBSEQUENT PLAN YEARS. For each succeeding Plan Year, an irrevocable deferral election for that Plan Year, and such other elections as the Committee deems necessary or desirable under the Plan, shall be made by timely delivering to the Committee, in accordance with its rules and procedures, before the end of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year for which the election is made, or at such other time as the Committee may determine from time to time, a new Election Form. If no such Election Form is timely delivered for a Plan Year, the Deferral Amount shall be zero for that Plan Year.

(c) RESTRICTED STOCK. For an election to defer Restricted Stock Amounts to be valid: (i) a separate irrevocable Election Form must be completed and signed by the Participant, with respect to such Restricted Stock; and (ii) such Election Form must be timely delivered to the Committee and accepted by the Committee at least six (6) months prior to the date the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock lapse.

3.4 WITHHOLDING OF ANNUAL DEFERRAL AMOUNTS. For each Plan Year, the Base Salary portion of the Deferral Amount shall be withheld from each regularly scheduled Base Salary payroll in equal amounts, as adjusted from time to time for increases and decreases in Base Salary. The Bonus portion of the Deferral Amount shall be withheld at the time the Bonus is or otherwise would be paid to the Participant, whether or not this occurs during the Plan Year itself.

3.5 ANNUAL COMPANY CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT. For each Plan Year, the Company, in its sole discretion, may, but is not required to, credit any amount it desires to any Participant's Company Contribution Account under this Plan, which amount shall be for that Participant the Annual Company Contribution Amount for that Plan Year. The amount so credited to a Participant may be smaller or larger than the amount credited to any other Participant, and the amount credited to any Participant for a Plan Year may be zero, even though one or more other Participants receive an Annual Company Contribution Amount for that Plan Year. The Annual Company Contribution Amount, if any, shall be credited as of the last day of the Plan Year. If a Participant is not employed by an Employer as of the last day of a Plan Year other than by reason of his


or her Retirement or death while employed, the Annual Company Contribution Amount for that Plan Year shall be zero.

3.6 RESTRICTED STOCK AMOUNT. Subject to any terms and conditions imposed by the Committee, Participants may elect to defer, under the Plan, Restricted Stock Amounts. Restricted Stock Amounts shall be credited/debited to the Participant on the books of the Employer in connection with such an election at the time the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock lapse under the terms of the Company's 1993 Long Term Performance Plan.

3.7 INVESTMENT OF TRUST ASSETS. The Trustee of the Trust shall be authorized, upon written instructions received from the Committee or investment manager appointed by the Committee, to invest and reinvest the assets of the Trust in accordance with the applicable Trust Agreement, including the disposition of Stock and reinvestment of the proceeds in one or more investment vehicles designated by the Committee.

3.8 SOURCES OF STOCK. If Stock is credited under the Plan in the Trust in connection with a deferral of Restricted Stock, the shares so credited shall be deemed to have originated, and shall be counted against the number of shares reserved, under such other plan, program or arrangement.

3.9 VESTING

         (a)      A Participant shall at all times be 100% vested in his or her
                  Deferral Account, Restricted Stock Account and Rollover
                  Account. A Participant shall vest in his or her Company
                  Contribution Account in accordance with the same vesting
                  schedule as set forth in the NEST.

         (b)      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
                  Section 3.9, in the event of a Change in Control, a
                  Participant's Company Contribution Account shall immediately
                  become 100% vested (if it is not already vested in accordance
                  with the above vesting schedules).

         (c)      Notwithstanding subsection (a), the vesting schedule for a
                  Participant's Company Contribution Account shall not be
                  accelerated to the extent that the Committee determines that
                  such acceleration would cause the deduction limitations of
                  Section 280G of the Code to become effective. In the event
                  that all of a Participant's Company Contribution Account is
                  not vested pursuant to such a determination, the Participant
                  may request independent verification of the Committee's
                  calculations with respect to the application of Section 280G.
                  In such case, the Committee must provide to the Participant
                  within 15 business days of such a request an opinion from a
                  nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the
                  Participant (the "Accounting Firm"). If the Accounting Firm's
                  opinion is in agreement with the Committee's determination,
                  the opinion shall state that any limitation in the vested
                  percentage hereunder is necessary to avoid the limits of
                  Section 280G and contain supporting calculations. The cost of
                  such opinion shall be paid for by the Company.

3.10     CREDITING/DEBITING OF ACCOUNT BALANCES. In accordance with, and subject
         to, the rules and procedures that are established from time to time by
         the Committee, in its sole discretion, amounts shall be


credited or debited to a Participant's Account Balance in accordance with the following rules:

(a) ELECTION OF MEASUREMENT FUNDS. A Participant, in connection with his or her initial deferral election in accordance with
Section 3.3(a) above, shall elect, on the Election Form, one or more Measurement Fund(s) (as described in Section 3.10(c) below) to be used to determine the additional amounts to be credited to his or her Account Balance for each business day thereof in which the Participant commences participation in the Plan and continuing thereafter for each subsequent business day in which the Participant participates in the Plan. Thereafter, the Participant may (but is not required to) elect, either by submitting an Election Form to the Committee that is accepted by the Committee or through any other manner approved by the Committee, to add or delete one or more Measurement Fund(s) to be used to determine the additional amounts to be credited to his or her Account Balance, or to change the portion of his or her Account Balance allocated to each previously or newly elected Measurement Fund, all in a manner permitted by the Committee.

(b) PROPORTIONATE ALLOCATION. In making any election described in
Section 3.10(a) above, the Participant shall specify on the Election Form, in increments of five percentage points (5%), the percentage of his or her Account Balance to be allocated to a Measurement Fund (as if the Participant was making an investment in that Measurement Fund with that portion of his or her Account Balance).

(c) MEASUREMENT FUNDS. In the First Plan Year, the following measurement fund, (the "Measurement Fund"), will be used for the purpose of crediting additional amounts to Participant's Account Balance:

- Nordson Corporation Investment Contract Fund

As necessary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, discontinue, substitute or add a Measurement Fund(s). Each such action will take effect as of the first day of the calendar quarter that follows by thirty (30) days the day on which the Committee gives Participants advance written notice of such change.

(d) CREDITING OR DEBITING METHOD. The performance of each elected Measurement Fund (either positive or negative) will be determined by the Committee, in its reasonable discretion, based on the performance of the Measurement Funds themselves. A Participant's Account Balance shall be credited or debited on a schedule as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as though (i) a Participant's Account Balance were invested in the Measurement Fund(s) selected by the Participant, in the percentages applicable to such business day, as of the close of business on that business day, at the closing price on such date; (ii) the portion of the Deferral Amount that was actually deferred during any business day were invested in the Measurement Fund(s) selected by the Participant, in the percentages applicable to such business day, no later than the close of business on that business day after the day on which such amounts are actually deferred from the Participant's Base Salary through reductions in his or her


payroll, at the closing price on such date; and (iii) any distribution made to a Participant that decreases such Participant's Account Balance ceased being invested in the Measurement Fund(s), in the percentages applicable to such business day, no earlier than one business day prior to the distribution, at the closing price on such date. The Participant's Company Contributions Amount shall be credited to his or her Company Contribution Account for purposes of this Section 3.10(d) as of the date determined by the Committee.

(e) NO ACTUAL INVESTMENT. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan that may be interpreted to the contrary, the Measurement Funds are to be used for measurement purposes only, and a Participant's election of any such Measurement Fund, the allocation to his or her Account Balance thereto, the calculation of additional amounts and the crediting or debiting of such amounts to a Participant's Account Balance shall not be considered or construed in any manner as an actual investment of his or her Account Balance in any such Measurement Fund. In the event that the Company or the Trustee (as that term is defined in the Trust), in its own discretion, decides to invest funds in any or all of the Measurement Funds, no Participant shall have any rights in or to such investments themselves. Without limiting the foregoing, a Participant's Account Balance shall at all times be a bookkeeping entry only and shall not represent any investment made on his or her behalf by the Company or the Trust; the Participant shall at all times remain an unsecured creditor of the Company.

(f) SPECIAL RULE FOR RESTRICTED STOCK ACCOUNT. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan that may be construed to the contrary, any amounts allocated to the Restricted Stock Account can never be reallocated to any other Measurement Fund(s) in this Plan. In addition, all distributions from the Restricted Stock Account must be distributed in Stock.

3.11 FICA AND OTHER TAXES

(a) ANNUAL DEFERRAL AMOUNTS. For each Plan Year in which an Deferral Amount is being withheld from a Participant, the Participant's Employer(s) shall withhold from that portion of the Participant's Base Salary and Bonus that is not being deferred, in a manner determined by the Employer(s), the Participant's share of FICA and other employment taxes on such Deferral Amount. If necessary, the Committee may reduce the Deferral Amount in order to comply with this Section 3.11.

(b) COMPANY CONTRIBUTION AMOUNTS. When a Participant becomes vested in a portion of his or her Company Contribution Account, the Participant's Employer(s) shall withhold from the Participant's Base Salary and/or Bonus that is not deferred, in a manner determined by the Employer(s), the Participant's share of FICA and other employment taxes. If necessary, the Committee may reduce the vested portion of the Participant's Company Contribution Account in order to comply with this
Section 3.11.

(c) RESTRICTED STOCK AMOUNTS. For each Plan Year in which a Restricted Stock Amount is being first withheld from a Participant, the Participant's Employer(s) shall withhold from that portion of the Participant's Base Salary, Bonus, and


                  Restricted Stock that is not being deferred, in a manner
                  determined by the Employer, the Participant's share of FICA
                  and other employment taxes on such Restricted Stock Amount. If
                  necessary, the Committee may reduce the Restricted Stock
                  Amount in order to comply with this Section 3.11.

3.12     DISTRIBUTIONS. The Participant's Employer, or the trustee of
         the Trust, shall withhold from any payments made to a Participant under
         this Plan all federal, state and local income, employment and other
         taxes required to be withheld by the Employer, or the trustee of the
         Trust, in connection with such payments, in amounts and in a manner to
         be determined in the sole discretion of the Employer and the trustee of
         the Trust.

ARTICLE 4
Short-Term Payout; Unforeseeable Financial Emergencies;
Withdrawal Election

4.1 SHORT-TERM PAYOUT. In connection with each election to defer an Annual Deferral Amount, a Participant may irrevocably elect to receive a future Short-Term Payout from the Plan with respect to such Deferral Amount. Subject to the Deduction Limitation, the Short-Term Payout shall be a lump sum payment in an amount that is equal to the Annual Deferral Amount plus amounts credited or debited in the manner provided in Section 3.10 above on that amount, determined at the time that the Short-Term Payout becomes payable (rather than the date of a Termination of Employment). Subject to the Deduction Limitation and the other terms and conditions of this Plan, each Short-Term Payout elected shall be paid out within a 60 day period commencing immediately after the last day of any Plan Year designated by the Participant that is at least five Plan Years after the Plan Year in which the Deferral Amount is actually deferred. By way of example, if a five year Short-Term Payout is elected for Deferral Amounts that are deferred in the Plan Year commencing January 1, 2001, the five year Short-Term Payout would become payable within a 60 day period commencing January 1, 2006.

4.2 OTHER BENEFITS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER SHORT-TERM. Should an event occur that triggers a benefit under Article 5, 6, 7 or 8, any Annual Deferral Amount, plus amounts credited or debited thereon, that is subject to a Short-Term Payout election under Section 4.1 shall not be paid in accordance with Section 4.1 but shall be paid in accordance with the other applicable Article. Moreover, any Short-Term Payout shall be adjusted to take into account any contribution under Section 3.5 above.

4.3 PAYOUT/SUSPENSIONS FOR UNFORESEEABLE FINANCIAL EMERGENCIES. If the Participant experiences an Unforeseeable Financial Emergency, the Participant may petition the Committee to (i) suspend any deferrals required to be made by a Participant and/or (ii) receive a partial or full payout from the Plan. The payout shall not exceed the lesser of the Participant's Account Balance, calculated as if such Participant were receiving a Termination Benefit, or the amount reasonably needed to satisfy the Unforeseeable Financial Emergency. If, subject to the sole discretion of the Committee, the petition for a suspension and/or payout is approved, suspension shall take effect upon the date of approval and any payout shall be made within 60 days of the date of approval. The payment of any amount under this Section 4.3 shall not be subject to the Deduction Limitation or withdrawal penalty of Section 4.4 below.


4.4 WITHDRAWAL ELECTION. A Participant (or, after a Participant's death, his or her Beneficiary) may elect, at any time, to withdraw all of his or her Account Balance, calculated as if there had occurred a Termination of Employment as of the day of the election, less a withdrawal penalty equal to 10% of such amount (the net amount shall be referred to as the "Withdrawal Amount"). This election can be made at any time, before or after Retirement, Disability, death or Termination of Employment, and whether or not the Participant (or Beneficiary) is in the process of being paid pursuant to an installment payment schedule. If made before Retirement, Disability or death, a Participant's Withdrawal Amount shall be his or her Account Balance calculated as if there had occurred a Termination of Employment as of the day of the election. No partial withdrawals of the Withdrawal Amount shall be allowed. The Participant (or his or her Beneficiary) shall make this election by giving the Committee advance written notice of the election in a form determined from time to time by the Committee. The Participant (or his or her Beneficiary) shall be paid the Withdrawal Amount within 60 days of his or her election. Once the Withdrawal Amount is paid, the Participant's participation in the Plan shall terminate and the Participant shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan for two full years following and from the date of receiving the Withdrawal Amount. The payment of this Withdrawal Amount shall not be subject to the Deduction Limitation.

ARTICLE 5
Retirement Benefit

5.1 RETIREMENT BENEFIT. Subject to the Deduction Limitation, a Participant who Retires shall receive, as a Retirement Benefit, his or her Account Balance.

5.2 PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFIT. A Participant, in connection with his or her commencement of participation in the Plan, shall elect on an Election Form to receive the Retirement Benefit in a lump sum or pursuant to an Annual Installment Method of 5, 10 or 15 years. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the Participant's Account Balance at the time of his or her Retirement is less than $35,000, payment of his or her Retirement Benefit shall be paid in a lump sum. The Participant may annually change his or her election to an allowable alternative payout period by submitting a new Election Form to the Committee, provided that any such Election Form is submitted at least 12 months prior to the Participant's Retirement and is accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Election Form most recently accepted by the Committee shall govern the payout of the Retirement Benefit. If a Participant does not make any election with respect to the payment of the Retirement Benefit, then such benefit shall be payable in a lump sum. The lump sum payment shall be made, or installment payments shall commence, no later than 60 days after the last day of the Plan Year which the Participant Retires. Any payment made shall be subject to the Deduction Limitation.

5.3 DEATH PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF RETIREMENT BENEFIT. If a Participant dies after Retirement but before the Retirement Benefit is paid in full, the Participant's unpaid Retirement Benefit payments shall continue and shall be paid to the Participant's Beneficiary (a) over the remaining number of years and in the same amounts as that benefit would have been paid to the Participant had the Participant survived, or (b) in a lump sum, if requested by the Beneficiary and allowed in the sole discretion of the Committee, that is equal to the Participant's unpaid remaining


Account Balance.

ARTICLE 6
Pre-Retirement Survivor Benefit

6.1 PRE-RETIREMENT SURVIVOR BENEFIT. Subject to the Deduction Limitation, the Participant's Beneficiary shall receive a Pre-Retirement Survivor Benefit equal to the Participant's Account Balance if the Participant dies before he or she Retires, experiences a Termination of Employment or suffers a Disability.

6.2 PAYMENT OF PRE-RETIREMENT SURVIVOR BENEFIT. A Participant's Beneficiary shall receive the Pre-Retirement Survivor Benefit in a lump sum. The lump sum payment shall be made no later than 60 days after the last day of the Plan Year in which the Committee is provided with proof that is satisfactory to the Committee of the Participant's death. Any payment made shall be subject to the Deduction Limitation.

ARTICLE 7
Termination Benefit

7.1 TERMINATION BENEFIT. Subject to the Deduction Limitation, the Participant shall receive a Termination Benefit, which shall be equal to the Participant's Account Balance if a Participant experiences a Termination of Employment prior to his or her Retirement, death or Disability.

7.2 PAYMENT OF TERMINATION BENEFIT. If the Participant's Account Balance at the time of his or her Termination of Employment is less than $35,000, payment of his or her Termination Benefit shall be paid in a lump sum. If his or her Account Balance at such time is equal to or greater than that amount, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may cause the Termination Benefit to be paid in a lump sum or pursuant to an Annual Installment Method of 5, 10 or 15 years. The lump sum payment shall be made, or installment payments shall commence, no later than 60 days after the Participant experiences the Termination of Employment. Any payment made shall be subject to the Deduction Limitation.

ARTICLE 8
Disability Waiver and Benefit

8.1 DISABILITY WAIVER.

(a) WAIVER OF DEFERRAL. A Participant who is determined by the Committee to be suffering from a Disability shall be (i) excused from fulfilling that portion of the Annual Deferral Amount commitment that would otherwise have been withheld from a Participant's Base Salary and/or Bonus for the Plan Year during which the Participant first suffers a Disability and
(ii) excused from fulfilling any existing Restricted Stock Amount. During the period of Disability, the Participant shall not be allowed to make any additional deferral elections, but will continue to be considered a Participant for all other purposes of this Plan.

(b) RETURN TO WORK. If a Participant returns to active employment with an Employer, after a Disability ceases, the Participant may elect to defer Deferral Amount and Restricted Stock Amount for the


Plan Year following his or her return to active employment or service and for every Plan Year thereafter while a Participant in the Plan; provided such deferral elections are otherwise allowed and an Election Form is delivered to and accepted by the Committee for each such election in accordance with
Section 3.3 above.

8.2 CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY; DISABILITY BENEFIT. A Participant suffering a Disability shall, for benefit purposes under this Plan, continue to be considered to be employed by an Employer, and shall be eligible for the benefits provided for in Articles 4, 5, 6 or 7 in accordance with the provisions of those Articles. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee shall have the right to, in its sole and absolute discretion and for purposes of this Plan only, and must in the case of a Participant who is otherwise eligible to Retire, deem the Participant to have experienced a Termination of Employment, or in the case of a Participant who is eligible to Retire, to have Retired, at any time (or in the case of a Participant who is eligible to Retire, as soon as practicable) after such Participant is determined to be suffering a Disability, in which case the Participant shall receive a Disability Benefit equal to his or her Account Balance at the time of the Committee's determination; provided, however, that should the Participant otherwise have been eligible to Retire, he or she shall be paid in accordance with Article 5. The Disability Benefit shall be paid in a lump sum within sixty (60) days of the Committee's exercise of such right. Any payment made shall be subject to the Deduction Limitation.

ARTICLE 9
Beneficiary Designation

9.1 BENEFICIARY. Each Participant shall have the right, at any time, to designate his or her Beneficiary(ies) (both primary as well as contingent) to receive any benefits payable under the Plan to a beneficiary upon the death of a Participant. The Beneficiary designated under this Plan may be the same as or different from the Beneficiary designation under any other plan of an Employer in which the Participant participates.

9.2 BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION; CHANGE; SPOUSAL CONSENT. A Participant shall designate his or her Beneficiary by completing and signing the Beneficiary Designation Form, and returning it to the Committee or its designated agent. A Participant shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by completing, signing and otherwise complying with the terms of the Beneficiary Designation Form and the Committee's rules and procedures, as in effect from time to time. If the Participant names someone other than his or her spouse as a Beneficiary, a spousal consent, in the form designated by the Committee, must be signed by that Participant's spouse and returned to the Committee. Upon the acceptance by the Committee of a new Beneficiary Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed shall be canceled. The Committee shall be entitled to rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the Participant and accepted by the Committee prior to his or her death.

9.3 ACKNOWLEDGMENT. No designation or change in designation of a Beneficiary shall be effective until received and acknowledged in writing by the Committee or its designated agent.

9.4 NO BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION. If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided in Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 above or, if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Participant or die prior to


complete distribution of the Participant's benefits, then the Participant's designated Beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her surviving spouse. If the Participant has no surviving spouse, the benefits remaining under the Plan to be paid to a Beneficiary shall be payable to the Participant's estate.

9.5 DOUBT AS TO BENEFICIARY. If the Committee has any doubt as to the proper Beneficiary to receive payments pursuant to this Plan, the Committee shall have the right, exercisable in its discretion, to cause the Participant's Employer to withhold such payments until this matter is resolved to the Committee's satisfaction.

9.6 DISCHARGE OF OBLIGATIONS. The payment of benefits under the Plan to a Beneficiary shall fully and completely discharge all Employers and the Committee from all further obligations under this Plan with respect to the Participant, and that Participant's Plan Agreement shall terminate upon such full payment of benefits.

ARTICLE 10

                                Leave of Absence
                                ----------------

10.1     PAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE. If a Participant is authorized by the
         Participant's Employer for any reason to take a paid leave of absence
         from the employment of the Employer, the Participant shall continue to
         be considered employed by the Employer and the Deferral Amount shall
         continue to be withheld during such paid leave of absence in accordance
         with Section 3.3.

10.2     UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE. If a Participant is authorized by the
         Participant's Employer for any reason to take an unpaid leave of
         absence from the employment of the Employer, the Participant shall
         continue to be considered employed by the Employer and the Participant
         shall be excused from making deferrals until the Participant returns to
         a paid employment status. Upon such return, deferrals shall resume for
         the remaining portion of the Plan Year in which the return occurs,
         based on the deferral election, if any, made for that Plan Year. If no
         election was made for that Plan Year, no deferral shall be withheld.

                                   ARTICLE 11
                     Termination, Amendment or Modification
                     --------------------------------------

11.1     TERMINATION. Although the Company anticipates that it will continue the
         Plan for an indefinite period of time, there is no guarantee that the
         Company will continue the Plan or will not terminate the Plan at any
         time in the future. Accordingly, the Company reserves the right to
         terminate the Plan at any time with respect to any or all of its
         participating Employees, by action of the Committee. Upon the
         termination of the Plan with respect to any Employer, the Plan
         Agreements of the affected Participants who are employed by that
         Employer shall terminate and their Account Balances, determined as if
         they had experienced a Termination of Employment on the date of Plan
         termination or, if Plan termination occurs after the date upon which a
         Participant was eligible to Retire, then with respect to that
         Participant as if he or she had Retired on the date of Plan
         termination, shall be paid to the Participants as follows: Prior to a
         Change in Control, if the Plan is terminated, the Company shall have
         the right, in its sole discretion, and notwithstanding any elections
         made by the Participant, to pay such benefits in a lump sum or pursuant
         to an Annual Installment Method of up to 15 years, with amounts
         credited and debited during the installment period as provided herein.

         After a Change in Control, the Company shall be required to pay such
         benefits in a lump sum within sixty (60) days of a Change in Control.
         The termination of the Plan shall not adversely affect any Participant
         or Beneficiary who has become entitled to the payment of any benefits
         under the Plan as of the date of termination; provided however, that
         the Company shall have the right to accelerate installment payments
         without a premium or prepayment penalty by paying the Account Balance
         in a lump sum or pursuant to an Annual Installment Method using fewer
         years.

11.2     AMENDMENT. The Company may, at any time, amend or modify the Plan in
         whole or in part by the action of the Committee; provided, however,
         that: (i) no amendment or modification shall be effective to decrease
         or restrict the value of a Participant's Account Balance in existence
         at the time the amendment or modification is made, calculated as if the
         Participant had experienced a Termination of Employment as of the
         effective date of the amendment or modification or, if the amendment or
         modification occurs after the date upon which the Participant was
         eligible to Retire, the Participant had Retired as of the effective
         date of the amendment or modification, and (ii) no amendment or
         modification of this Section 11.2 or Section 12.2 of the Plan shall be
         effective. The amendment or modification of the Plan shall not affect
         any Participant or Beneficiary who has become entitled to the payment
         of benefits under the Plan as of the date of the amendment or
         modification; provided, however, that the Company shall have the right
         to accelerate installment payments by paying the Account Balance in a
         lump sum or pursuant to an Annual Installment Method using fewer years.

11.3     EFFECT OF PAYMENT. The full payment of the applicable benefit under
         Articles 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 of the Plan shall completely discharge all
         obligations to a Participant and his or her designated Beneficiaries
         under this Plan and the Participant's Plan Agreement shall terminate.

                                   ARTICLE 12
                                 Administration
                                 --------------

12.1     COMMITTEE DUTIES. This Plan will be administered by the Committee. The
         Committee will, subject to the terms of this Plan, have the authority
         to: (i) approve for participation employees who are recommended for
         participation by the president and Chief Executive Officer of the
         Company, (ii) adopt, alter, and repeal administrative rules and
         practices governing this Plan, (iii) interpret the terms and provisions
         of this Plan, and (iv) otherwise supervise the administration of this
         Plan. All decisions by the Committee will be made with the approval of
         not less than a majority of its members. The Committee may delegate any
         of its authority to any other person or persons that it deems
         appropriate, provided the delegation does not cause this Plan or any
         awards granted under this Plan to fail to qualify for the exemption
         provided by Rule 16b-3, or, if applicable, to meet the requirements of
         the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

12.2     ADMINISTRATION UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL. For purposes of this Plan, the
         Company shall be the "Administrator" at all times prior to the
         occurrence of a Change in Control. Upon and after the occurrence of a
         Change in Control, the "Administrator" shall be an independent third
         party selected by the Trustee and approved by the individual who,
         immediately prior to such event, was the Company's President and Chief
         Executive Officer or, if not so identified, the Company's then highest
         ranking officer (the "Ex-President and Chief Executive Officer").


         The Administrator shall have the discretionary power to determine all
         questions arising in connection with the administration of the Plan and
         the interpretation of the Plan and Trust including, but not limited to
         benefit entitlement determinations; provided, however, upon and after
         the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Administrator shall have no
         power to direct the investment of Plan or Trust assets or select any
         investment manager or custodial firm for the Plan or Trust. Upon and
         after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company must: (1) pay
         all reasonable administrative expenses and fees of the Administrator;
         (2) indemnify the Administrator against any costs, expenses and
         liabilities including, without limitation, attorney's fees and expenses
         arising in connection with the performance of the Administrator
         hereunder, except with respect to matters resulting from the gross
         negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrator or its employees
         or agents; and (3) supply full and timely information to the
         Administrator or all matters relating to the Plan, the Trust, the
         Participants and their Beneficiaries, the Account Balances of the
         Participants, the date of circumstances of the Retirement, Disability,
         death or Termination of Employment of the Participants, and such other
         pertinent information as the Administrator may reasonably require. Upon
         and after a Change in Control, the Administrator may be terminated (and
         a replacement appointed) by the Trustee only with the approval of the
         Ex-President and Chief Executive Officer. Upon and after a Change in
         Control, the Administrator may not be terminated by the Company.

12.3     AGENTS. In the administration of this Plan, the Committee may, from
         time to time, employ agents and delegate to them such administrative
         duties as it sees fit (including acting through a duly appointed
         representative) and may from time to time consult with counsel who may
         be counsel to any Employer.

12.4     BINDING EFFECT OF DECISIONS. All decisions by the Committee, and by any
         other person or persons to whom the Committee has delegated authority,
         shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any
         interest in the Plan.

12.5     INDEMNITY OF COMMITTEE. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless
         the members of the Committee, and any Employee to whom the duties of
         the Committee may be delegated, and the Administrator against any and
         all claims, losses, damages, expenses or liabilities arising from any
         action or failure to act with respect to this Plan, except in the case
         of willful misconduct by the Committee, any of its members, any such
         Employee or the Administrator.

12.6     EMPLOYER INFORMATION. To enable the Committee and/or Administrator to
         perform its functions, the Company and each Employer shall supply full
         and timely information to the Committee and/or Administrator, as the
         case may be, on all matters relating to the compensation of its
         Participants, the date and circumstances of the Retirement, Disability,
         death or Termination of Employment of its Participants, and such other
         pertinent information as the Committee or Administrator may reasonably
         require.


ARTICLE 13

                          Other Benefits and Agreements
                          -----------------------------

13.1     COORDINATION WITH OTHER BENEFITS. The benefits provided for a
         Participant and Participant's Beneficiary under the Plan are in
         addition to any other benefits available to such Participant under any
         other plan or program for employees of the Participant's Employer. The
         Plan shall supplement and shall not supersede, modify or amend any
         other such plan or program except as may otherwise be expressly
         provided.

                                   ARTICLE 14
                                Claims Procedures
                                -----------------

14.1     PRESENTATION OF CLAIM. Any Participant or Beneficiary of a deceased
         Participant (such Participant or Beneficiary being referred to below as
         a "Claimant") may deliver to the Committee a written claim for a
         determination with respect to the amounts distributable to such
         Claimant from the Plan. If such a claim relates to the contents of a
         notice received by the Claimant, the claim must be made within 60 days
         after such notice was received by the Claimant. All other claims must
         be made within 180 days of the date on which the event that caused the
         claim to arise occurred. The claim must state with particularity the
         determination desired by the Claimant.

14.2     NOTIFICATION OF DECISION. The Committee shall consider a Claimant's
         claim within a reasonable time, and shall notify the Claimant in
         writing:
         (a)      that the Claimant's requested determination has been made, and
                  that the claim has been allowed in full; or
         (b)      that the Committee has reached a conclusion contrary, in whole
                  or in part, to the Claimant's requested determination, and
                  such notice must set forth in a manner calculated to be
                  understood by the Claimant:
                  (i)      the specific reason(s) for the denial of the claim,
                           or any part of it;
                  (ii)     specific reference(s) to pertinent provisions of the
                           Plan upon which such denial was based;
                  (iii)    a description of any additional material or
                           information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the
                           claim, and an explanation of why such material or
                           information is necessary; and
                  (iv)     an explanation of the claim review procedure set
                           forth in Section 14.3 below.

14.3     REVIEW OF A DENIED CLAIM. Within 60 days after receiving a notice from
         the Committee that a claim has been denied, in whole or in part, a
         Claimant (or the Claimant's duly authorized representative) may file
         with the Committee a written request for a review of the denial of the
         claim. Thereafter, but not later than 30 days after the review
         procedure began, the Claimant (or the Claimant's duly authorized
         representative):
         (a)      may review pertinent documents;
         (b)      may submit written comments or other documents; and/or
         (c)      may request a hearing, which the Committee, in its sole
                  discretion, may grant.

14.4     DECISION ON REVIEW. The Committee shall render its decision on review
         promptly, and not later than 60 days after the filing of a written
         request for review of the denial, unless a hearing is held or other

         special circumstances require additional time, in which case the
         Committee's decision must be rendered within 120 days after such date.
         Such decision must be written in a manner calculated to be understood
         by the Claimant, and it must contain:
         (a)      specific reasons for the decision;
         (b)      specific reference(s) to the pertinent Plan provisions upon
                  which the decision was based; and
         (c)      such other matters as the Committee deems relevant.

14.5     LEGAL ACTION. A Claimant's compliance with the foregoing provisions of
         this Article 14 is a mandatory prerequisite to a Claimant's right to
         commence any legal action with respect to any claim for benefits under
         this Plan.

                                   ARTICLE 15
                                     Trust
                                     -----

15.1     ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST. The Company may establish one or more
         Trusts to which the Company may transfer such assets as the Company
         determines in its sole discretion to assist in meeting its obligations
         under the Plan.

15.2     INTERRELATIONSHIP OF THE PLAN AND THE TRUST. The provisions of the Plan
         and the Plan Agreement shall govern the rights of a Participant to
         receive distributions pursuant to the Plan. The provisions of the Trust
         shall govern the rights of the Company, Participants and the creditors
         of the Employers to the assets transferred to the Trust.

15.3     DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE TRUST. Each Employers obligations under the Plan
         may be satisfied with Trust assets distributed pursuant to the terms of
         the Trust, and any such distribution shall reduce the Company's
         obligations under this Plan.

15.4     STOCK TRANSFERRED TO THE TRUST. Notwithstanding any other provision of
         this Plan or the Trust: (i) if Trust assets are distributed to a
         Participant in a distribution which reduces the Participant's
         Restricted Stock Account balance under this Plan, such distribution
         must be made in the form of Stock and (ii) any Stock transferred to the
         Trust in accordance with Section 3.6 may not be otherwise distributed
         or disposed of by the Trustee until at least 6 months after the date
         such Stock is transferred to the Trust.

                                   ARTICLE 16
                                 Miscellaneous
                                 -------------

16.1     STATUS OF PLAN. The Plan is intended to be a plan that is not qualified
         within the meaning of Code Section 401(a) and that "is unfunded and is
         maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing
         deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly
         compensated employee" within the meaning of ERISA Sections 201(2),
         301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1). The Plan shall be administered and interpreted
         to the extent possible in a manner consistent with that intent.

16.2     UNSECURED GENERAL CREDITOR. Participants and their Beneficiaries,
         heirs, successors and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights,
         interests or claims in any property or assets of the Company or an
         Employer. For purposes of the payment of benefits under this Plan, any
         and all of the Company's or an Employer's assets shall be, and remain,
         the general, unpledged unrestricted assets of the Company or an


         Employer, respectively. The Company's or an Employer's obligation under
         the Plan shall be merely that of an unfunded and unsecured promise to
         pay money in the future.

16.3     EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY. An Employer's liability for the payment of
         benefits shall be defined only by the Plan and the Plan Agreement, as
         entered into between the Employer and a Participant. An Employer shall
         have no obligation to a Participant under the Plan except as expressly
         provided in the Plan and his or her Plan Agreement.

16.4     NONASSIGNABILITY. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have
         any right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate,
         mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate, alienate or
         convey in advance of actual receipt, the amounts, if any, payable
         hereunder, or any part thereof, which are, and all rights to which are
         expressly declared to be, unassignable and non-transferable. No part of
         the amounts payable shall, prior to actual payment, be subject to
         seizure, attachment, garnishment or sequestration for the payment of
         any debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance owed by a
         Participant or any other person, be transferable by operation of law in
         the event of a Participant's or any other person's bankruptcy or
         insolvency or be transferable to a spouse as a result of a property
         settlement or otherwise.

16.5     NOT A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT. The terms and conditions of this Plan
         shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of employment between any
         Employer and the Participant, either expressed or implied. Such
         employment is hereby acknowledged to be an "at will" employment
         relationship that can be terminated at any time for any reason, or no
         reason, with or without cause, and with or without notice, unless
         expressly provided in a written employment agreement. Nothing in this
         Plan shall be deemed to give a Participant the right to be retained in
         the service of any Employer, or to interfere with the right of any
         Employer to discipline or discharge the Participant at any time.

16.6     FURNISHING INFORMATION. A Participant or his or her Beneficiary will
         cooperate with the Committee by furnishing any and all information
         requested by the Committee and take such other actions as may be
         requested in order to facilitate the administration of the Plan and the
         payments of benefits hereunder, including but not limited to taking
         such physical examinations as the Committee may deem necessary.

16.7     TERMS. Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine, they shall
         be construed as though they were in the feminine in all cases where
         they would so apply; and whenever any words are used herein in the
         singular or in the plural, they shall be construed as though they were
         used in the plural or the singular, as the case may be, in all cases
         where they would so apply.


16.8     CAPTIONS. The captions of the articles, sections and paragraphs of this
         Plan are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the
         meaning or construction of any of its provisions.

16.9     GOVERNING LAW. Subject to ERISA, the provisions of this Plan shall be
         construed and interpreted according to the internal laws of the State
         of Ohio without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.


         NOTICE. Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the
         Committee under this Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and
         hand-delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, to the address
         below:

                               Robert E. Veillette
                            Assistant General Counsel
                               Nordson Corporation
                               28601 Clemens Road
                              Westlake, Ohio 44145

         Such notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery or, if
         delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the
         receipt for registration or certification.

         Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to a Participant
         under this Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered,
         or sent by mail, to the last known address of the Participant.

16.10    SUCCESSORS. The provisions of this Plan shall bind and inure to the
         benefit of the Company Employer and its successors and assigns and the
         Participant and the Participant's designated Beneficiaries.

16.11    SPOUSE'S INTEREST. The interest in the benefits hereunder of a spouse
         of a Participant who has predeceased the Participant shall
         automatically pass to the Participant and shall not be transferable by
         such spouse in any manner, including but not limited to such spouse's
         will, nor shall such interest pass under the laws of intestate
         succession.

16.12    VALIDITY. In case any provision of this Plan shall be illegal or
         invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect
         the remaining parts hereof, but this Plan shall be construed and
         enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been
         inserted herein.

16.13    INCOMPETENT. If the Committee determines in its discretion that a
         benefit under this Plan is to be paid to a minor, a person declared
         incompetent or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of
         that person's property, the Committee may direct payment of such
         benefit to the guardian, legal representative or person having the care
         and custody of such minor, incompetent or incapable person. The
         Committee may require proof of minority, incompetence, incapacity or
         guardianship, as it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the
         benefit. Any payment of a benefit shall be a payment for the account of
         the Participant and the Participant's Beneficiary, as the case may be,
         and shall be a complete discharge of any liability under the Plan for
         such payment amount.

16.14    COURT ORDER. The Committee is authorized to make any payments directed
         by court order in any action in which the Plan or the Committee has
         been named as a party. In addition, if a court determines that a spouse
         or former spouse of a Participant has an interest in the Participant's
         benefits under the Plan in connection with a property settlement or
         otherwise, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right,
         notwithstanding any election made by a Participant, to immediately
         distribute the spouse's or former spouse's interest in the
         Participant's benefits under the Plan to that spouse or former spouse.

16.15    DISTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF TAXATION.

         (a)      IN GENERAL. If, for any reason, all or any portion of a
                  Participant's benefits under this Plan becomes taxable to the
                  Participant prior to receipt, a Participant may petition the
                  Committee before a Change in Control, or the trustee of the
                  Trust after a Change in Control, for a distribution of that
                  portion of his or her benefit that has become taxable. Upon
                  the grant of such a petition, which grant shall not be
                  unreasonably withheld (and, after a Change in Control, shall
                  be granted), a Participant's Employer shall distribute to the
                  Participant immediately available funds in an amount equal to
                  the taxable portion of his or her benefit (which amount shall
                  not exceed a Participant's unpaid Account Balance under the
                  Plan). If the petition is granted, the tax liability
                  distribution shall be made within 90 days of the date when the
                  Participant's petition is granted. Such a distribution shall
                  affect and reduce the benefits to be paid under this Plan.

         (b)      TRUST. If the Trust terminates in accordance with Section
                  3.6(e) of the Trust and benefits are distributed from the
                  Trust to a Participant in accordance with that Section, the
                  Participant's benefits under this Plan shall be reduced to the
                  extent of such distributions.

16.17    INSURANCE. The Company, on its own behalf or on behalf of the trustee
         of the Trust, and, in its sole discretion, may apply for and procure
         insurance on the life of the Participant, in such amounts and in such
         forms as the Trust may choose. The Company or the trustee of the Trust,
         as the case may be, shall be the sole owner and beneficiary of any such
         insurance. The Participant shall have no interest whatsoever in any
         such policy or policies, and at the request of the Company shall submit
         to medical examinations and supply such information and execute such
         documents as may be required by the insurance company or companies to
         whom the Company has applied for insurance.

16.18    LEGAL FEES TO ENFORCE RIGHTS AFTER CHANGE IN CONTROL. The Company is
         aware that upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Board or a
         shareholder of the Company, or of any successor corporation might then
         cause or attempt to cause the Company, or such successor to refuse to
         comply with its obligations under the Plan and might cause or attempt
         to cause the Company to institute, or may institute, litigation seeking
         to deny Participants the benefits intended under the Plan. In these
         circumstances, the purpose of the Plan could be frustrated.
         Accordingly, if, following a Change in Control, it should appear to any
         Participant that the Company or any successor corporation has failed to
         comply with any of its obligations under the Plan or any agreement
         thereunder or, if the Company or any other person takes any action to
         declare the Plan void or unenforceable or institutes any litigation or
         other legal action designed to deny, diminish or to recover from any
         Participant the benefits intended to be provided, then the Company
         hereby irrevocably authorizes such Participant to retain counsel of his
         or her choice at the expense of the Company to represent such
         Participant in connection with the initiation or defense of any
         litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or
         any director, officer, shareholder or other person affiliated with the
         Company or any successor thereto in any jurisdiction.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has signed this Plan document as of November 3, 2000.

NORDSON CORPORATION

By: __________________________________
Title: __________________________________


Exhibit 10-e-1

FIRST AMENDMENT
TO
NORDSON CORPORATION
EXCESS DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT PLAN
(November 1, 1987 Restatement)

The Nordson Corporation Excess Defined Contribution Retirement Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), as originally established for the benefit of certain designated salaried employees effective as of November 1, 1985, and amended and restated in its entirety effective as of November 1, 1987, is hereby amended further, effective as January 1, 1988, to provide as follows:

1. Section 1.1 of the Plan is amended by the addition of a new paragraph (f) at the end thereof to provide as follows:

(f) The term "Non-Union ESOP" shall mean the Nordson Corporation Non-Union Employees Stock Ownership Plan and Trust in effect on the date of an Employee's retirement, death, or other termination of employment.

2. Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Plan are amended to provide as follows:

2.1 ELIGIBILITY. An Employee who is a Participant in the Employees' Savings Trust Plan or the Non-Union ESOP and whose benefits under either Plan have been limited by Section 401(a)(17), Section 402(g)(1), or
Section 415 of the Code, including limitations on tax-deferred and employer-matching contributions, shall be eligible for an excess retirement benefit determined by Section 2.2. In addition, in the event that the Tax Deferred Contributions of an eligible Employee under the Employees' Savings Trust Plan are limited by the provisions of Section 401(a)(17), Section 415, or
Section 402(g)(1) of the Code, such eligible Employee may elect to defer payment of that portion of his compensation that otherwise could have been made as Tax Deferred Contributions but for these limitations. The deferred payment election shall be made in writing by the eligible Employee and delivered to the Company prior to the beginning of a Plan Year. The election shall be irrevocable until the first day of the next Plan Year. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, any reference in Section 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder to the limitation imposed by Section 402(g)(1) of the Code shall automatically include any amendments to such limitation to reflect cost of living increases.

2.2 AMOUNT. The excess retirement benefit payable to an eligible Employee or his beneficiary shall be an amount equal to the sum of:

(i) the amount, if any, of the limited contributions an eligible Employee elected to defer in Section 2.1, except


that if such limited contributions would be further restricted under the Employees' Savings Trust Plan for a Plan Year to comply with Section 401(k) of the Code with respect to the deferral of compensation by highly compensated employees, the amount determined hereunder shall be similarly limited; plus

(ii) an amount that, when added to the vested interest of such Employee in Employer Matching Contributions under the Employees' Savings Trust Plan, equals the value his vested interest in Employer Matching Contributions would have been on the date distribution commences under the Employees' Savings Trust Plan if the limitations of Section
401(a)(17), Section 415, or Section 402(g)(1) of the Code had not been in effect; plus

(iii) an amount, if any, equal to the value of the vested interest an eligible Employee would have been entitled to receive under the Non-Union ESOP if the limitations of Section 401(a)(17) or Section 415 of the Code had not been in effect.

In determining the value that an eligible Employee's interest under the Employees' Savings Trust Plan and under the Non-Union ESOP would have been if the limitations of Section
401(a)(17), Section 415, or Section 402(g)(1) of the Code had not been in effect as described in (i), (ii), and (iii) above, it shall be assumed that:

(a) his Tax Deferred Contributions and his Employer Matching Contributions under the Employees' Savings Trust Plan and any Employer contributions under the Non-Union ESOP were deposited on the dates such contributions would have otherwise been made to the Employees' Savings Trust Plan or Non-Union ESOP, as applicable, and held in the guaranteed income contract maintained as part of the Guaranteed Fund that holds the largest amount of assets from the Employees' Savings Trust Plan for such year; and

(b) the interest rate actually paid with respect to such guaranteed income contract under the Guaranteed Fund for the Employee's Savings Trust Plan was paid with respect to the contributions that would otherwise have been made under either Plan; and

(c) such interest was reinvested in the Guaranteed Fund for the Employee's Savings Trust on the date and in the same manner as actual interest under the Guaranteed Fund.

* * *

EXECUTED at Westlake, Ohio, this 29th day of May, 1989.

NORDSON CORPORATION

By ______________________
Title:


Exhibit 10-f-1

FIRST AMENDMENT
TO
NORDSON CORPORATION
EXCESS DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN

The Nordson Corporation Excess Defined Benefit Pension Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), as originally established for the benefit of certain designated salaried employees effective as of November 1, 1985, is hereby amended, effective as January 1, 1989, to provide as follows:

1. Section 1.1 of the Plan is amended by the addition of a new paragraph (f) at the end thereof to provide as follows:

(f) The term "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Reference to a section of the Code shall include such section and any comparable section or sections of any future legislation that amends, supplements, or supersedes such section.

2. Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Plan are amended to provide as follows:

2.1 ELIGIBILITY. An Employee who retires, dies, or otherwise terminates his employment with the Company under conditions which make such Employee or Beneficiary eligible for a benefit under the Salaried Pension Plan, and whose benefits under the Salaried Pension Plan are limited by Section 415 of the Code, or, for periods commencing on and after November 1, 1989, Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, shall be eligible for an excess pension benefit determined by Section 2.2.

2.2 AMOUNT. Subject to the provisions of Article III, the monthly excess pension benefit payable to an Employee or Beneficiary shall be such an amount which, when added to the monthly pension payable (before any reduction applicable to an optional method of payment) under the Salaried Pension Plan to such person, equals the monthly pension benefit that would have been payable (before any reduction applicable to an optional method of payment) under the Salaried Pension Plan to such person if the limitations of Section 415 of the Code and, for periods commencing on and after November 1, 1989, Section 401(a)(17) of the Code were not in effect.

* * *

EXECUTED at Westlake, Ohio, this day of , 1989.


NORDSON CORPORATION

By _______________________________
Title:


Exhibit 10-f-2

SECOND AMENDMENT
TO
NORDSON CORPORATION
EXCESS DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLAN

The Nordson Corporation Excess Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), as originally established for the benefit of certain designated salaried employees effective as of November 1, 1985, and as amended on one subsequent occasion, is hereby further amended, effective upon execution hereof, to add new Section 2.4 as follows:

2.4 VESTING OF BENEFITS. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan other than Section 6.6 to the contrary, the excess pension benefit of each eligible Employee determined as if he were to terminate employment on December 31, 1993, shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable on December 31, 1993.

EXECUTED at Westlake, Ohio this _______ day of ________, 1993.

NORDSON CORPORATION

By ____________________

Title _________________


Exhibit 10-j

NORDSON CORPORATION
1993 LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE PLAN

(as amended on March 12, 1998)

1. Purpose.

The Nordson Corporation 1993 Long-Term Performance Plan (the "Plan") is designed to foster and promote the long-term growth and performance of the Company by: (a) enhancing the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified Directors and employees and (b) motivating Directors and employees through stock ownership and performance-based incentives. To achieve this purpose, this Plan provides authority for the grant of Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Stock Equivalent Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other stock and performance-based incentives and the maintenance of an employee stock purchase program.

2. Definitions.

(a) "Affiliate" - This term has the meaning given to it in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.

(b) "Award" - The grant of Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Stock Equivalent Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Purchase Rights, Cash Awards, and other stock and performance-based incentives under this Plan. When Plan terms may be deemed applicable to Awards granted prior to March 12, 1998, the definition of Awards shall be deemed to include Director Options for such purposes.

(c) "Award Agreement"-- Any agreement between the Company and a Participant that sets forth terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to an Award.

(d) "Board of Directors" - The Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) "Cash Award" - This term has the meaning given to it in
Section 6 (b) (v).

(f) "Change in Control" - A "Change of Control" will be deemed to occur if at any time after the date of the adoption of this Plan:

(i) any person (other than Nordson Corporation, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan or employee stock ownership plan of Nordson Corporation, or any Person organized, appointed, or established by Nordson Corporation for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or together with any of its Affiliates or Associates, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, or any such Person commences or publicly announces an intent to commence a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, for purposes of determining whether Eric T. Nord or Evan W. Nord, together with each of


their Affiliates or Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Walter G. Nord Trust, by the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor to the Nord Family Foundation), and by the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation shall be excluded; for purposes of determining whether the Walter G. Nord Trust, the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor) , or the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, together with each of their Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by Eric T. Nord and by Evan W. Nord shall be excluded; for purposes of determining whether the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor) together with its Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation will be excluded; and, for purposes of determining whether the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, together with its Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor) will be excluded) . For purposes of this Section 2(f) (i) , the terms "Affiliates, "Associates," "Beneficial Owner," and "Person" will have the meanings given to them in the Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of November 7, 1997, between Nordson Corporation and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, as amended from time to time.

(ii) At any time during a period of 24 consecutive months, individuals who were Directors at the beginning of the period no longer constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, unless the election, or the nomination for election by Nordson Corporation's shareholders, of each Director who was not a Director at the beginning of the period is approved by at least a majority of the Directors who are in office at the time of the election or nomination and were Directors at the beginning of the period.

(iii) A record date is established for determining shareholders entitled to vote upon (A) a merger or consolidation of Nordson Corporation with another corporation in which Nordson Corporation is not the surviving or continuing corporation or in which all or part of the outstanding Common Shares are to be converted into or exchanged for cash, securities, or other property, (B) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Nordson Corporation, or (C) the dissolution of Nordson Corporation.

(iv) Any person who proposes to make a "control share acquisition" of Nordson Corporation, within the meaning of Section 1701.01(Z) of the Ohio General Corporation Law, submits or is required to submit an acquiring person statement to Nordson Corporation.

(g) "Code" - The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any law that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.

(h) "Committee" - The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or any other committee of the Board of Directors that the Board of Directors authorizes to administer this Plan. The Committee will be constituted in a manner that satisfies all applicable legal requirements, including satisfying the "non-employee director" standard set forth in Rule 15b-3, if applicable. In addition, as applicable, the Committee or a subcommittee thereof will be constituted in a manner consistent with the "outside director" standard set forth in the


regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(i) "Common Shares" or "shares" - Common Shares without par value of Nordson Corporation, including authorized and unissued shares and treasury shares.

(j) "Company" - Nordson Corporation, an Ohio corporation, and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

(k) "Continuing Director" - A Director who was a Director prior to a Change in Control or was recommended or elected to succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office.

(1) "Director" - A director of Nordson Corporation.

(m) "Director Option" - A right to purchase Common Shares granted to certain Directors under provisions of the Plan in effect prior to March 12, 1998, or under the Nordson Corporation 1989 Stock Option Plan.

(n) "Exchange Act" - Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any law that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.

(o) "Fair Market Value" of Common Shares - The value of the Common Shares determined by the Committee, or pursuant to rules established by the Committee on a basis consistent with regulations under the Code, except that, "Fair Market Value" for purposes of Section 6(a) hereof shall be as defined thereunder.

(p) "Holder" - The Participant or eligible transferee (as such eligibility may be determined from time to time by the Committee) who holds an Award.

(q) "Incentive Stock Option" - A Stock Option that meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

(r) "Notice of Award" - Any notice by the Committee to a Participant that advises the Participant of the grant of an Award or sets forth terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to an Award.

(s) "Participant" - Any person to whom an Award has been granted under this Plan.

(t) "Restricted Stock" - An Award of Common Shares that are subject to restrictions or risk of forfeiture.

(u) "Rule 16b-3" - Rule l6b-3 under the Exchange Act, or any rule that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.

(v) "Stock Appreciation Right" - This term has the meaning given to it in Section 6 (b) (i).

(w) "Stock Award" - This term has the meaning given to it in
Section 6 (b) (ii).


(x) "Stock Equivalent Unit" - An Award that is valued by reference to the value of Common Shares.

(y) "Stock Option" - This term has the meaning given to it in
Section 6 (b) (iii).

(z) "Stock Purchase Right" - This term has the meaning given to it in Section 6(b) (iv).

3. Eligibility.

All employees of the Company and its Affiliates and all Directors are eligible for the grant of Awards. The selection of the employees and Directors to receive Awards will be within the discretion of the Committee. More than one Award may be granted to the same employee or Director.

4. Common Shares Available for Awards; Adjustment.

(a) Number of Common Shares. The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be subject to Awards granted under this Plan in any fiscal year of the Company during the term of this Plan will be equal to the sum of (i) three percent (3.0%) of the number of Common Shares outstanding as of the first day of that fiscal year plus (ii) the number of Common Shares that were available for the grant of Awards, but not granted, under this Plan in previous fiscal years; provided that, in no event will the number of Common Shares available for the grant of Awards in any fiscal year exceed three and one-half percent (3.5%) of the Common Shares outstanding as of the first day of that fiscal year. The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options is 1,000,000.

The assumption of awards granted by an organization acquired by the Company, or the grant of Awards under this Plan in substitution for any such awards, will not reduce the number of Common Shares available in any fiscal year for the grant of Awards under this Plan.

Common Shares subject to an Award that is forfeited, terminated, or canceled without having been exercised (other than Common Shares subject to a Stock Option that is canceled upon the exercise of a related Stock Appreciation Right) will again be available for grant under this Plan, without reducing the number of Common Shares available in any fiscal year for grant of Awards under this Plan.

(b) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares will be issued, and the Committee will determine the manner in which the value of fractional shares will be treated.

(c) Adjustment. In the event of any change in the Common Shares by reason of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, or similar transaction, or in the event of a stock dividend, stock split, or distribution to shareholders (other than normal cash dividends), the Committee will adjust the number and class of shares that may be issued under this Plan (including the number of Common Shares that may be subject to Awards granted to any Participant in any fiscal


year under Section 6(a)), the number and class of shares subject to outstanding Awards, the exercise price applicable to outstanding Awards, and the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares and other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards.

5. Administration.

(a) Committee. This Plan will be administered by the Committee. The Committee will, subject to the terms of this Plan, have the authority to: (i) select the eligible employees and Directors who will receive Awards, (ii) grant Awards, (iii) determine the number and types of Awards to be granted to employees and Directors, (iv) determine the terms, conditions, vesting periods, and restrictions applicable to Awards, (v) adopt, alter, and repeal administrative rules and practices governing this Plan, (vi) interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan and any Awards granted under this Plan,
(vii) prescribe the forms of any Notices of Award, Award Agreements, or other instruments relating to Awards, and (viii) otherwise supervise the administration of this Plan. All decisions by the Committee will be made with the approval of not less than a majority of its members.

(b) Delegation. The Committee may delegate any of its authority to any other person or persons that it deems appropriate, provided the delegation does not cause this Plan or any Awards granted under this Plan to fail to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3, or, if applicable, to meet the requirements of the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(c) Decisions Final. All decisions by the Committee, and by any other person or persons to whom the Committee has delegated authority, will be final and binding on all persons.

6. Awards.

(a) Grant of Awards. The Committee will determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant and will set forth in the related Notice of Award or Award Agreement the terms, conditions, vesting periods, and restrictions applicable to each Award. Awards may be granted singly or in combination or tandem with other Awards. In addition, the number of Common Shares that may be subject to Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company during the term of the Plan which Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights have an exercise price greater than or equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Shares on the date of grant may not exceed 100,000 Common Shares. Awards may also be granted in replacement of, or in substitution for, other awards granted by the Company, whether or not granted under this Plan; without limiting the foregoing, if a Participant pays all or part of the exercise price or taxes associated with an Award by the transfer of Common Shares or the surrender of all or part of an Award (including the Award being exercised), the Committee may, in its discretion, grant a new Award to replace the Common Shares that were transferred or the Award that was surrendered. The Company may assume awards granted by an organization acquired by the Company or may grant Awards in replacement of, or in substitution for, any such awards.

For purposes of this Section 6 (a), "Fair Market Value"


of Common Shares shall mean, on any particular date, (a) if the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, the closing price as reported for composite transactions on the exchange for the last day on which trades are reported prior to that particular date, (b) if the Common Shares are not listed on an exchange but transactions in the Common Shares are reported in the NASDAQ National Market System, the closing price as reported in the NASDAQ National Market System for the last day on which trades are reported prior to that particular date, and (c) if either of the methods referred to in (a) or (b) become impracticable for any reason, the value determined using a method established by the Committee on a basis consistent with regulations under the Code.

(b) Types of Awards. Awards may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i) Stock Appreciation Right - a right to receive a payment, in cash or Common Shares, equal to the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value, or other specified valuation, of a specified number of Common Shares on the date the right is exercised over (B) the Fair Market Value, or other specified valuation, on the date the right is granted, all as determined by the Committee. The right may be conditioned upon the occurrence of certain events, such as a Change in Control of the Company, or may be unconditional, as determined by the Committee.

(ii) Stock Award - An Award that is made in Common Shares, Restricted Stock, or Stock Equivalent Units or that is otherwise based on, or valued in whole or in part by reference to, the Common Shares. All or part of any Stock Award may be subject to conditions, restrictions, and risks of forfeiture, as and to the extent established by the Committee. Stock Awards may be based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares, or on other specified values or methods of valuation, as determined by the Committee.

(iii) Stock Option - A right to purchase a specified number of Common Shares, during a specified period, and at a specified exercise price, all as determined by the Committee. A Stock Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a Stock Option that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. In addition to the terms, conditions, vesting periods, and restrictions established by the Committee, Incentive Stock Options must comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The exercise price of a Stock Option that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option may be more or less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares on the date the Stock Option is granted.

(iv) Stock Purchase Right - A right to participate in a stock purchase program, including but not limited to a stock purchase program that meets the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

Among other requirements, Section 423 currently provides that (A) only employees of Nordson Corporation, or of any direct or indirect subsidiary of Nordson Corporation designated by the Committee, may receive Stock Purchase Rights that qualify under Section 423 ("Section 423 Rights"), (B) Section 423 Rights may not. be granted to any Participant who, immediately after the Section 423 Rights are granted, owns stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of Nordson Corporation, (C) Section 423 Rights must be granted to all employees of Nordson Corporation, and of any


direct or indirect subsidiary of Nordson Corporation designated by the Committee, except that there may be excluded (1) employees who have been employed less than two years, (2) employees whose customary employment is 20 hours or less per week, (3) employees whose customary employment is f or not more than five months in any calendar year, and (4) highly compensated employees (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code) , (D) all employees granted
Section 423 Rights must have the same rights and privileges, except that the number of Common Shares that may be purchased by any employee upon exercise of
Section 423 Rights may bear a uniform relationship to the total compensation, or the basic or regular rate of compensation, of the employee, (E) the exercise price of Section 423 Rights may not be less than the lesser of (1) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares at the time Section 423 Rights are granted, or (2) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares at the time the Section 423 Rights are exercised; (F)
Section 423 Rights cannot be exercised after the expiration of 27 months from the date the Section 423 Rights are granted, and {G) no employee may be granted
Section 423 Rights, under this Plan and any other plans of Nordson Corporation and its subsidiaries, that permit the purchase of Common Shares with a Fair Market Value of more than $25,000 (determined at the time the Section 423 Rights are granted) in any calendar year.

(v) Cash Award - An Award denominated in cash. All or part of any cash award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee, including but not limited to future service with the Company or the achievement of specific performance objectives.

7. Director Options.

(a) Suspension of Director Options. Prior to March 12, 1998, Director Options were automatically granted to Directors of the Corporation pursuant to and in accordance with a formula grant program set forth in the Plan. From and after March 12, 1998, no further Director Options shall be granted hereunder and the formula grant program referenced above shall be suspended; provided, however, that Directors shall remain eligible to receive grants of Awards hereunder in accordance with the eligibility standards set forth in Section 3 hereof.

(b) Treatment of Outstanding Director Options. Any Director Option granted to a Director under provisions of the Plan in effect prior to March 12, 1998, or under the Nordson Corporation 1989 Stock Option Plan, will continue to be subject to the terms and conditions set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

(c) Further Amendment of the Plan. Upon the exercise, expiration or termination of all outstanding Director Options, this Plan shall be deemed automatically amended to delete in its entirety Schedule 1 hereto and to remove from the provisions hereof all references to "Director Option" or "Director Options." The Plan shall be deemed further amended to the extent necessary to make all modifications to the Plan to effect such amendment, including, without limitation, the removal of all references to "Director Option" or "Director Options" and any revisions to section designations and cross references as may be appropriate and necessary.


8. Deferral of Payment.

With the approval of the Committee, the delivery of the Common Shares, cash, or any combination thereof subject to an Award (other than Director Options) may be deferred, either in the form of installments or a single future delivery. The Committee may also permit selected Participants to defer the payment of some or all of their Awards, as well as other compensation, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee to assure that the recognition of taxable income is deferred under the Code. Deferred amounts may, to the extent permitted by the Committee, be credited as cash or Stock Equivalent Units. The Committee may also establish rules and procedures for the crediting of interest on deferred cash payments and dividend equivalents on Stock Equivalent Units.

9. Payment of Exercise Price.

The exercise price of a Stock Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option), Director Option, Stock Purchase Right, and any Stock Award for which the Committee has established an exercise price may be paid in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, by the surrender of all or part of an Award (including the Award being exercised), or by a combination of these methods, as and to the extent permitted by the Committee. The exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option may be paid in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, or by a combination of these methods, as and to the extent permitted by the Committee at the time of grant, but may not be paid by the surrender of all or part of an Award. The Committee may prescribe any other method of paying the exercise price that it determines to be consistent with applicable law and the purpose of this Plan.

In the event shares of Restricted Stock are used to pay the exercise price of a Stock Award, a number of the Common Shares issued upon the exercise of the Award equal to the number of shares of Restricted Stock used to pay the exercise price will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock.

10. Taxes Associated with Award.

Prior to the payment of an Award, the Company may withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to pay any Federal, state, and local taxes associated with the Award; provided, however, that if a Stock Option has been transferred and the Participant does not pay such taxes on the date of exercise, such taxes will be paid by reducing the number of Common Shares to be received upon exercise. The Committee may, in its discretion and subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt, permit a Participant to pay any or all taxes associated with the Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option) in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, by the surrender of all or part of an Award (including the Award being exercised), or by a combination of these methods. The Committee may permit a Participant to pay any or all taxes associated with an Incentive Stock Option in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, or by a combination of these methods.


11. Termination of Employment.

If the employment of a Participant terminates for any reason, all unexercised, deferred, and unpaid Awards may be exercisable or paid only in accordance with rules established by the Committee. These rules may provide, as the Committee deems appropriate, for the expiration, continuation, or acceleration of the vesting of all or part of the Awards.

12. Termination of Awards under Certain Conditions.

The Committee may cancel any unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards held by a Holder at any time if the Holder is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Plan or with any Notice of Award, Award Agreement, Committee action or documentation relating to the Award, or if the Participant, without the prior written consent of the Company, engages in any of the following activities:

(i) Renders services for an organization, or engages in a business, that is, in the judgment of the Committee, in competition with the Company.

(ii) Discloses to anyone outside of the Company, or uses for any purpose other than the Company's business, any confidential information or material relating to the Company, whether acquired by the Participant during or after employment with the Company.

The Committee may, in its discretion and as a condition to the exercise of an Award by a Holder, require a Holder to acknowledge in writing that he or she is in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Plan and of any Notice of Award, Award Agreement, Committee action or documentation relating to the Award, and, in the case of a Participant, has not engaged in any activities referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

13. Change in Control.

In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, unless and to the extent otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, (i) all Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Options, and other Stock Purchase Rights then outstanding will become fully exercisable as of the date of the Change in Control, (ii) all restrictions and conditions applicable to Restricted Stock and other Stock Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied as of the date of the Change in Control, and (iii) all Cash Awards will be deemed to have been fully earned as of the date of the Change in Control. Any such determination by the Board of Directors that is made after the occurrence of a Change in Control will not be effective unless a majority of the Directors then in office are Continuing Directors and the determination is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

14. Amendment, Suspension, or Termination of this Plan; Amendment of Outstanding Awards.

(a) Amendment, Suspension, or Termination of this Plan. The Board of Directors may amend, suspend, or terminate this Plan at any time. Shareholder approval for any such amendment will be required only to the extent necessary to comply with the rules of the NASDAQ National Market System or any other exchange or quotation system on which the


Common Shares are traded or quoted, the rules and regulations related to Incentive Stock Options, Section l62(m) of the Code, or any other applicable legal requirements.

(b) Amendment of Outstanding Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion, amend the terms of any Award, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment may impair the rights of any Holder without his or her consent. The Committee may, in whole or in part, waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to, or accelerate the vesting of, any Award.

15. Awards to Foreign Nationals and Employees Outside the United States.

To the extent that the Committee deems appropriate to comply with foreign law or practice and to further the purpose of this Plan, the Committee may, without amending this Plan, (i) establish special rules applicable to Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals, are employed outside the United States, or both, including rules that differ from those set forth in this Plan, and (ii) grant Awards to such Participants in accordance with those rules.

16. Nonassignability.

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, (i) no Award granted under this Plan may be transferred or assigned by the Holder other than by Designation of Beneficiary, or, if none, by will, pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order and (ii) an Award granted under this Plan may be exercised, during the Holder's lifetime, only by the Holder or by the Holder s guardian or legal representative; except that, no Incentive Stock Option or Section 423 Right may be transferred or assigned pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or exercised, during the Participant's lifetime, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative. "Designation of Beneficiary" shall mean the person(s) or entity whom the Holder has designated by a transfer on death or other designation of beneficiary to receive the Holder's option on the Holder's death in accordance with such procedures established from time to time by the Committee.

17. Governing Law.

The interpretation, validity, and enforcement of this Plan will, to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the securities laws of the United States, be governed by the law of the State of Ohio.

18. Rights of Employees.

Nothing in this Plan will confer upon any Participant the right to continued employment by the Company or limit in any way the Company's right to terminate any Participant's employment at will.

19. Effective and Termination Dates.

(a) Effective Date. The effective date of this Plan is March 10, 1993.


(b) Termination Date. This Plan will continue in effect until terminated by the Board of Directors.

Schedule 1

Director Options

(Unless otherwise defined herein, defined terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.)

1. EXPIRATION DATE. Unless terminated earlier pursuant to the next sentence, each Director Option will terminate, and the right of the holder to purchase Common Shares upon exercise of the Director Option will expire, at the close of business on the tenth anniversary date of the date of grant. Each Director Option will terminate, and the right of the holder to purchase Common Shares upon exercise of the Director Option will expire, upon the completion of a transaction of the type identified in Section 2(f) (iii) of the Plan, but only if provision satisfactory to the Committee is made for the payment to the holder of the Director Option of the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares subject to the Director Option immediately prior to the completion of the transaction over (ii) the exercise price.

2. CONTINUOUS SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR. No Director Option may be exercised unless the Non-Employee Director to whom the Director Option was granted has continued to be a Non-Employee Director from the time of grant through the time of exercise, except as provided in this Section 2. For purposes of this Section 2, Non-Employee Director means a Director who is not an employee of the Company.

(a) If the service in office of a Non-Employee Director is terminated due to the death of the Non-Employee Director, the Non-Employee Director's estate, executor, administrator, personal representative, or beneficiary will have the right to exercise any Director Options held by the Non-Employee Director at the time of his or her death in whole or in part prior to the earlier of (i) 12 months after the date of the holder's death and (ii) the expiration of the Director Option.

(b) If a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Non-Employee Director by reason of his employment by the Company, any Director Options granted to that Non-Employee Director and held by the Non-Employee Director at the time of his or her employment by the Company will be treated the same as Stock Options held by employees and will continue to be exercisable prior to the expiration of the Director Option, subject to the limitations on exercise following termination of employment established by the Committee pursuant to
Section 11 of the Plan.

(c) If the service in office of a Non-Employee Director is terminated for any reason other than those set forth in Sections 2(a) and 2 (b), any Director Options held by the terminated Non-Employee Director at the time of his or her termination may be exercised in whole or in part only with the consent of the Committee. In any such event, the consent of the Committee must be obtained and the Director Option exercised prior to the earlier of (i) three months after the date of the termination of service in office of a Non-Employee Director and (ii) the expiration of the Director Option.


3. FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR PURPOSES OF DIRECTOR OPTIONS. For purposes of Director Options, the Fair Market Value of Common Shares on any particular date means, (a) if the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, the closing price as reported for composite transactions on the exchange for the last day on which trades are reported prior to that particular date, (b) if the Common Shares are not listed on an exchange but transactions in the Common Shares are reported in the NASDAQ National Market System, the closing price as reported in the NASDAQ National Market System for the last day on which trades are reported prior to that particular date, and (c) if either of the methods referred to in (a) or (b) become impracticable for any reason, the value determined using a method established by the Committee on a basis consistent with regulations under the Code.


Exhibit 10-k

NORDSON CORPORATION

1988 AMENDED AND RESTATED
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN

1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this 1988 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (the "Plan") is to provide to optionees under stock options heretofore or hereafter granted pursuant to the Nordson Corporation 1979 Employees Stock Option Plan (the "Nonqualified Stock Option Plan"), the Nordson Corporation 1982 Incentive Stock Option Plan, and any other stock option plan of Nordson Corporation ("Nordson") now or hereafter in effect an alternative method of realizing the benefits provided by such stock options and, in the case of the Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, a supplemental benefit in connection with the exercise of stock options granted thereunder.

2. DEFINITIONS. As used in the Plan:

(a) "Stock Appreciation Rights" means any of the rights, including Limited Rights, granted pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan;

(b) "Change of Control" means, and shall be deemed to have taken place upon the occurrence of, one or more of the following events:

(i) Any Person (other than Nordson, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan or employee stock ownership plan of Nordson or of any of its subsidiaries, or any Person organized, appointed, or established by Nordson or any of its subsidiaries for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or together with any of its Affiliates or Associates, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, any such Person is declared to be an Adverse Person by the Board of Directors, or any such Person commences or publicly announces an intent to commence a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (Provided, however, that, for


purposes of determining whether Eric T. Nord or Evan W. Nord, together with each of their Affiliates or Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Walter G. Nord Trust and by the Nordson Foundation shall be excluded and, for purposes of determining whether the Walter G. Nord Trust or the Nordson Foundation, together with each of their Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial-Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by Eric T. Nord and by Evan W. Nord shall be excluded). For purposes of this clause (i), the terms "Adverse Person," "Affiliates," "Associates," "Beneficial Ownership," and "Person" shall have the meanings given to them in the Rights Agreement, dated as of August 26, 1988, between Nordson and AmeriTrust Company National Association, as Rights Agent, as amended from time to time.

(ii) At any time during a period of 24 consecutive months, individuals who were Directors of Nordson at the beginning of the period no longer constitute a majority of Nordson's Directors, unless the election, or the nomination for election by Nordson's shareholders, of each of the new Directors was approved by at least a majority of the Directors who were in office at the time of the election or nomination and were Directors at the beginning of the period.

(iii) A record date is established for determining shareholders entitled to vote upon a merger or consolidation of Nordson with another corporation in which Nordson is not the surviving or continuing corporation or in which all or part of the outstanding Common Shares are to be converted into or exchanged for cash, securities, or other property; a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Nordson; or the liquidation and dissolution of Nordson.

(iv) Any person who proposes to make a "control share acquisition" of Nordson, within the meaning of
Section 1701.01(Z)(1) of the Ohio General Corporation Law, submits or is required to submit an acquiring Person statement to Nordson.

(c) "Committee" means the committee provided for in
Section 8 of the Plan;

(d) "Common Shares" means Common Shares with a par value of $1 each of Nordson or, in accordance with the adjustment provisions in any employee stock option plan under which any stock option is outstanding, the class of shares subject to the stock option;

(e) "Fair market value" of Common Shares on any date that the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange shall


mean the closing price as reported for composite transactions on the exchange for the last date on which trades are reported prior to such date; "fair market value" of Common Shares on any date that transactions in the Common Shares are reported in the NASDAQ National Market System shall mean the closing price as reported in the NASDAQ National Market System for the last date on which trades are reported prior to such date.

(f) "Limited Right" shall mean a Stock Appreciation Right that becomes exercisable, as provided in Section 4(e), only upon the occurrence of a Change in Control.

(g) "Outstanding stock option" means a stock option to purchase Common Shares granted by Nordson pursuant to any employees stock option plan of Nordson now or hereafter in effect to the extent that the stock option has not been exercised and has not terminated; and

(h) "Spread" means the excess of the fair market value of a Common Share on the date when a Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over the option price provided for in the related stock option.

3. GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

(a) The Committee may from time to time define the terms of and grant Stock Appreciation Rights, including Limited Rights, subject to the terms of this Plan, with respect to all or part of any outstanding stock option (including any outstanding stock option simultaneously granted), whether or not the stock option is exercisable at the time of grant.


(b) Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the optionee to receive either:

(i) upon exercise of the Stock Appreciation Rights and surrender of all or part of the related stock option, an amount equal to 100% of the spread on the date of exercise multiplied by the number of Common Shares in respect of which the Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised; or

(ii) upon exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights specifically designated by the Committee as eligible for such payment, and exercise of all or part of a related stock option granted under the Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (or any other stock option plan of Nordson not providing for the grant of "incentive stock options" as that term is defined in Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code), a cash payment in an amount equal to the percentage designated by the Committee of the spread on the date of exercise multiplied by the number of Common Shares in respect of which the related stock option is exercised.

Amounts payable under clause (i) may be paid by Nordson in whole Common Shares (taken at their fair market value on the date of exercise), in cash, or partly in whole Common Shares and partly in cash, as the Committee shall determine. The determination as to such manner of payment may be made by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights or at any time thereafter and shall be subject to change from time to time.

(c) The grant of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by a notice to the optionee signed by or on behalf of the Committee, which notice shall describe the Stock Appreciation Rights, specify the related stock option, and state that the Stock Appreciation Rights are subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan.

(d) Stock Appreciation Rights may not be granted with respect to stock options to purchase more than 450,000 Common Shares. If any Stock Appreciation Rights expire or cease to be exercisable for any reason other than exercise of the Stock Appreciation Rights or of the related stock option, further Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in


respect of the Common Shares subject to the expired Stock Appreciation Rights.

4. EXERCISE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

(a) Stock Appreciation Rights which are held by an optionee who is a Director or officer of Nordson and which are payable wholly or partly in cash may not be exercised until the expiration of six months after the date of grant, except in the event of the death or disability of the optionee. In any case, Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only at a time when the related stock option may be exercised. No Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised at any time when the fair market value of the Common Shares subject to the related option does not exceed the option price.

(b) An optionee who is a Director or officer of Nordson may exercise Stock Appreciation Rights, other than Limited Rights, only during the period beginning on the third business day following the date of release for publication by Nordson of quarterly or annual summary statements of sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth business day following such release. Limited Rights do not need to be exercised within this period.

(c) Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only in writing and, in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights under clause (b)(i) of
Section 3, only to the extent accompanied by surrender to Nordson, unexercised, of all or part of the related stock option.

(d) Common Shares subject to stock options surrendered upon exercise of the related Stock Appreciation Rights under clause
(b)(i) of Section 3 shall not be available for the granting of further stock options under any employees stock option plan of Nordson, anything in such


stock option plan to the contrary notwithstanding.

(e) Limited Rights may be exercised only during the 30-day period beginning upon the occurrence of a Change in Control; provided, however, that if the Change in Control occurs within the six-month period following the date of the grant of any Limited Right, those Limited Rights will be exercisable during the 30-day period beginning six months after the date of grant.

(f) In the event of any change in the Common Shares subject to stock options in respect of which Stock Appreciation Rights have been granted by reason of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or other corporate transaction or of a stock dividend, stock split, or other capital adjustment, the total number and class of shares subject to stock options in respect of which Stock Appreciation Rights may thereafter be granted under the Plan and the number and class of shares subject to each outstanding stock option in respect of which Stock Appreciation Rights have theretofore been granted under the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be final.

5. ASSIGNABILITY. Stock Appreciation Rights may not be transferred or assigned by the optionee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or apart from the related stock option and may be exercised during the optionee's lifetime only by him or by his guardian or legal representative.

6. AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION, OR TERMINATION OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee may at any time amend, suspend, or terminate any Stock Appreciation Rights theretofore granted under the Plan. In case of an amendment, the amended Stock Appreciation Rights shall be in accordance with the Plan. In addition, Stock Appreciation


Rights shall terminate and may no longer be exercised upon the earlier of (a) exercise or termination of the related stock option or (b) any termination date specified by the Committee at the time the Stock Appreciation Rights are granted.

7. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Board of Directors may at any time amend or terminate the Plan, although no such amendment, without shareholder approval, may (a) materially increase the benefits accruing to the optionees to whom Stock Appreciation Rights have been granted under the Plan, (b) materially increase the Stock Appreciation Rights which may be granted under the Plan (except in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4(e)), or (c) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation under the Plan.

8. ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of Nordson's Board of Directors appointed by and serving during the pleasure of Nordson's Board of Directors. No Director who has at any time within one year been eligible to participate in the Plan, or in any employee stock purchase plan or in any other stock option or Stock Appreciation Rights plan of Nordson or any of its affiliates, may serve as a member of the Committee. The Committee shall have full power and authority to grant Stock Appreciation Rights and to interpret the provisions and to supervise the administration of the Plan. All decisions of the Committee shall be made by not less than a majority of its members and shall be final.

9. COMMON SHARES. The Common Shares to be issued or delivered upon the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights may be authorized and unissued or treasury shares as the Committee may from time to time determine.


10. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Plan shall become effective when adopted by Nordson's Board of Directors, subject to approval by Nordson's shareholders within 12 months before or after such adoption.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
October 27, 1988


Exhibit 13-a

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

FISCAL YEARS 2000 AND 1999
Worldwide sales for 2000 reached a record level of $740.6 million, up 6 percent over 1999 sales of $700.5 million. Local sales volume gains exceeded 8 percent, with the effect of the stronger dollar on translated international revenue accounting for the difference.

Sales volume in the Company's adhesive dispensing segment grew 7 percent, reflecting strong demand for systems serving the nonwovens and product assembly markets. Revenue in the advanced technology segment was up 28 percent driven by sales of dispensing and plasma treatment systems to the semiconductor and telecommunications industries. Coating and finishing sales volume was down 3 percent influenced by weak demand in Europe. It is estimated that the effect of price increases on total revenues was less than 1 percent.

Nordson's sales outside the United States accounted for 55 percent of total 2000 sales, compared with 56 percent for 1999. Volume gains were achieved in all of Nordson's four geographic regions. Compared to 1999, sales volume in North America grew 10 percent for the year, driven by strong performance within the Company's adhesive dispensing and advanced technology segments. In Europe, sales volume increased 6 percent as a result of strong sales in the adhesive dispensing markets. Sales volume also increased 6 percent in Japan. Lastly, sales volume rose 13 percent in the Pacific South region influenced by strong activity in the advanced technology segment.

Gross margins, expressed as a percentage of sales were 55.1 percent in 2000, compared with 54.6 percent in 1999. Improved manufacturing efficiencies were mitigated somewhat by the effect of the strong dollar.

Selling and administrative expenses, excluding non-recurring charges, were 41.5 percent in 2000 and 43.1 percent in 1999. Spending for 2000 increased 1.8 percent with incremental expenses associated with the implementation of the Company's enterprise management systems offset by the favorable currency translation effects on European-based costs.

At the beginning of fiscal 2000, the Company announced Action 2000, a two-year program of broad-based initiatives to improve performance and reduce costs. During 2000, the Company's Action 2000 initiative resulted in the recognition of $9.0 million of non-recurring charges. Of this amount, $7.5 million of severance and related benefit payments were made to approximately 250 salaried employees. The remainder represents severance obligations due to approximately 125 hourly manufacturing employees. This amount will be paid by mid 2001. It is anticipated that the program will be substantially complete by the end of fiscal year 2001 and that additional costs of approximately $2.0 million, primarily related to severance payments, will be incurred during 2001.

Consistent with restructuring of Nordson's organization during fiscal 2000, the Company now will report results by global business segments rather than geographic divisions. Worldwide operating profits, expressed as a percentage of sales, before the effects of non-recurring charges, were 13.6 percent in 2000, compared with 11.4 percent for 1999. Segment operating profit percentages in 2000 and 1999, excluding expenses not allocated to segments, were as follows:

SEGMENT                            2000          1999
------------------------------------------------------
Adhesive Dispensing and             25%           21%
  Nonwoven Fiber Systems
Coating and Finishing Systems        6%            4%
Advanced Technology Systems         16%            9%

All segments reflect improvement as a result of Action 2000 initiatives.

Interest expense increased $1.4 million over the comparable period of 1999, mainly as a result of increased borrowing levels during most of the year and an increase in effective short-term borrowing rates. Interest of $.3 million related to the implementation of an enterprise management system was capitalized.

Nordson's effective tax rate was 34.5 percent in 2000 compared with 33.5 percent in 1999. In 1999, the rate was influenced by the recognition of research and development credits related to prior years.

Net income in 2000 was $54.6 million, or $1.67 per share on a diluted basis compared with $47.5 million, or $1.42 per share on a diluted basis in 1999. Excluding the effects of non-recurring charges, net income in 2000 was $60.5 million, or $1.85 per share, compared with $49.5 million, or $1.48 per share for 1999. Non-recurring charges on an after-tax basis totaled $5.9 million, or $.18 per share for 2000, and $2.0 million, or $.06 per share on a diluted basis for 1999. All figures reflect Nordson's 2-for-1 stock split, which was effective September 12, 2000.


In-process technology acquired in 1998 from JM Laboratories, Inc. related primarily to the development of a product that uses two different technologies to form fibers. During 1999, product development was completed according to the expected timeframe and at the level of development costs anticipated. A working prototype of this product was made available to commercial customers in 1999. During 2000, orders were received for systems which evolved from this technology.

Nordson will be required to implement the Securities and Exchange Commission's Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements" effective for the first quarter of the Company's fiscal year 2001. This Bulletin will not have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company.

Nordson has not yet adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 138, "Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities" (FAS 138) which amended Statement No. 133, "Accounting and Reporting Standards for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" (FAS 133). The Company must adopt FAS 138 for fiscal year 2001, and it will not have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company.

FISCAL YEARS 1999 AND 1998
Worldwide sales in 1999 reached $700.5 million, a 6 percent increase over 1998 sales of $660.9 million. Volume gains exceeded 5 percent, with unfavorable currency effects making up the difference.

Worldwide volume gains were driven by the continued strong pace of activity within the advanced technology segment as well as increased sales of nonwoven systems in the adhesive dispensing segment. Offsetting these increases, sales of coating and finishing equipment decreased from the prior year. Volume gains were enhanced by full-year results from businesses acquired in 1998 in addition to new businesses acquired in 1999.

Nordson's sales outside the United States accounted for 56 percent of total 1999 sales, compared with 59 percent for 1998. Volume gains were achieved in two of Nordson's four geographic regions in 1999. Sales volume in North America grew 13 percent for 1999, primarily due to the solid performance of recent acquisitions as well as positive contributions from the Company's advanced technology and adhesive dispensing segments. Local sales volume advanced 13 percent in the Pacific South region, spurred by strong performance in China, Mexico and Korea. Looking at other regions, sales volume declined 2 percent in Europe, with the impact of weakened economic conditions felt across most businesses. Local sales volume in Japan decreased 4 percent from the same period of 1998, reflecting the ongoing softness in the Japanese economy.

Gross margins, expressed as a percentage of sales before the effects of non-recurring charges, were 54.6 percent in 1999, compared with 55.1 percent in 1998. The influencing factor behind this decrease was a change in product mix as the Company experienced higher growth in sales of engineered systems as compared to standard products.

Selling and administrative costs, expressed as a percentage of sales and excluding the effects of non-recurring charges, were 43.1 percent in 1999 and 43.3 percent in 1998. Spending for 1999 increased 6 percent over the prior period, primarily due to recent business acquisitions. Excluding the effects of acquisitions and foreign currency adjustments, spending increased less than 2 percent over the prior period.

The initial step taken as part of the Company's Action 2000 initiatives resulted in the recognition of $3.0 million of non-recurring charges consisting of severance payments and supplemental pension obligations during 1999.

Worldwide operating profits, expressed as a percentage of sales, before the effects of non-recurring charges, were 11.4 percent in 1999, compared with 11.8 percent for 1998, mainly as a result of lower gross margin rates. Segment operating profit percentages in 1999 and 1998, excluding expenses not allocated to segments, were as follows:

SEGMENT                            1999          1998
------------------------------------------------------
Adhesive Dispensing and             21%           21%
  Nonwoven Fiber Systems
Coating and Finishing Systems        4%            5%
Advanced Technology Systems          9%           10%

Interest expense increased $.6 million over the comparable period of 1998 mainly as a result of increased borrowing levels. Offsetting these higher borrowing levels was a decrease in effective short-term borrowing rates. In addition, $.4 million of interest related to an enterprise management system was capitalized.


Nordson's effective tax rate was 33.5 percent in 1999 compared with a rate of 46.5 percent in 1998. In 1998, the rate was influenced by the write-off of in-process research and development, which is not tax deductible. Excluding this item, the effective tax rate would have been 34.0 percent in 1998. The decrease in the 1999 effective tax rate compared with 1998 can be traced to benefits from research and development credits from prior years offset by increased state and local taxes.

Net income in 1999 was $47.5 million, or $1.42 per share on a diluted basis compared with $20.8 million, or $.62 per share on a diluted basis in 1998. Excluding the effects of non-recurring charges, net income in 1999 was $49.5 million, or $1.48 per share, compared with $47.4 million, or $1.42 per share for 1998. Non-recurring charges on an after-tax basis totaled $2.0 million, or $.06 per share for 1999, and $26.6 million, or $.80 per share on a diluted basis for 1998.

LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND SOURCES OF CAPITAL
During fiscal 2000, cash provided by operations was $85.0 million. Working capital, excluding cash and short-term notes payable, decreased $3.5 million as increases in inventories and accounts receivable were more than offset by increases in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and customer advance payments. Significant uses for cash included capital expenditures, dividends, repurchases of Nordson stock, scheduled repayments of long-term debt and payments of short-term borrowings.

Nordson concentrated the majority of its 2000 capital expenditures on information systems and manufacturing equipment. Expenditures for information systems included the implementation of an enterprise management system, upgraded network capabilities and the development of the Company's e-commerce Web site.

Dividend payments to shareholders on a per-share basis increased 8 percent over 1999.

Purchases of treasury shares, net of shares issued, totaled $17.7 million. The Company uses repurchased shares primarily for stock-based employee compensation and incentive plans.

Notes payable decreased $45.6 million as cash generated from operations was used to pay down short-term borrowings. Accounts payable increased as a result of purchases made near the end of the year to meet increasing demand for Nordson products. The increase in accrued liabilities is mainly attributable to profit- sharing commitments made to domestic employees. Customer advance payments increased as a result of increased customer orders, reflective of the record backlog for the year.

Nordson has various lines of credit with both domestic and foreign banks. At October 29, 2000, these lines totaled $528.2 million, of which $440.3 million was unused, pending the acquisition of EFD, Inc. The Company believes that the combination of present capital resources, internally generated funds, and unused financing sources are more than adequate to meet cash requirements for 2001. There are no significant restrictions limiting the transfer of funds from international subsidiaries to the parent Company.

On October 30, 2000, the Company completed the acquisition of EFD, Inc., a privately held East Providence, Rhode Island-based manufacturer of precision, low-pressure, industrial dispensing valves and components. The purchase price approximated $280 million. The majority of the purchase was financed with short-term credit facilities. Internally generated cash flow of the Company and EFD, Inc. will be used to pay down this debt.

EFFECTS OF FOREIGN CURRENCY
The impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on sales and operating results cannot be precisely measured because of fluctuating selling prices, sales volume, product mix and cost structures in each country where Nordson operates. As a rule, a weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies has a favorable effect on sales and net income, while a strengthening of the U.S. dollar has a detrimental effect.

In 2000 compared with 1999, the U.S. dollar was generally stronger against foreign currencies. If 1999 exchange rates had been in effect during 2000, sales would have been approximately $18.6 million higher and third-party costs would have been approximately $13.8 million higher. In 1999 compared with 1998, the U.S. dollar was generally weaker against foreign currencies. If exchange rates for 1998 had been in effect during 1999, sales would have been approximately $3.9 million lower and third-party costs would have been approximately $1.8 million lower. These effects on reported sales do not include the impact of local price adjustments made in response to changes in currency exchange rates.


MARKET RISK
The Company operates internationally and enters into transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Consequently, the Company is subject to market risk arising from exchange rate movements between the dates foreign currencies are recorded and the dates they are settled. Nordson regularly uses foreign exchange contracts to reduce its risks related to most of these transactions. These contracts usually have maturities of 90 days or less, and generally require the Company to exchange foreign currencies for U.S. dollars at maturity, at rates stated in the contracts. Gains and losses from changes in the market value of these contracts which offset foreign exchange gains and losses on the underlying transactions are recognized in Net Income. The balance of transactions denominated in foreign currencies consist of derivatives used to hedge the Company's net investments in foreign subsidiaries and long-term intercompany loans. As a result of the Company's use of foreign exchange contracts on a routine basis to reduce the risks related to nearly all of the Company's transactions denominated in foreign currencies as of October 29, 2000, the Company did not have a material foreign currency risk related to its derivatives or other financial instruments.

The Company finances a portion of its operations with fixed-rate borrowings. Consequently, the Company is subject to market risk arising from changes in interest rates. Nordson has entered into interest rate swaps to reduce risks related to its fixed-rate debt. Under these swaps, the Company receives a fixed rate and pays a variable rate, generally over the life of the underlying fixed-rate debt. The differential between interest to be received and interest to be paid is accrued monthly as an adjustment to interest expense. As a result of the Company's use of these interest rate swaps, at October 29, 2000, the risk associated with the Company's fixed-rate debt instruments was offset by the risk associated with its derivative instruments. The net effect of these identified risks was not material.

INFLATION
Inflation affects profit margins because the ability to pass cost increases on to customers is restricted by the need for competitive pricing. Although inflation has been modest in recent years and has had no material effect on the years covered by these financial statements, Nordson continues to seek ways to minimize the impact of inflation. It does so through focused efforts to raise its productivity.

TRENDS
The Eleven-Year Summary on pages 40 and 41 documents Nordson's historical financial trends. Over this period, the world's economic conditions fluctuated significantly. Nordson's solid performance is attributed to the Company's participation in diverse geographic and industrial markets and its long-term commitment to develop and provide quality products and worldwide service to meet customers' changing needs.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENTS UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES
LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Statements in this report pertaining to future periods are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the protection afforded by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Consequently, the Company's actual results could differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the expected results include, but are not limited to: deferral of orders, customer-requested delays in system installations, currency exchange rate fluctuations, a sales mix different from assumptions and significant changes in local business conditions in geographic regions in which the Company conducts business.


Exhibit 13-b

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 29, 2000, OCTOBER 31, 1999
AND NOVEMBER 1, 1998                                         2000               1999               1998
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT FOR PER-SHARE AMOUNTS)
SALES                                                    $740,568           $700,465           $660,900

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:
   Cost of sales                                          332,597            318,230            303,671
   Selling and administrative expenses                    307,559            302,250            286,120
   Acquired in-process research and development                --                 --             14,300
   Other non-recurring charges                              8,960              3,000             11,738
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          649,116            623,480            615,829
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING PROFIT                                           91,452             76,985             45,071


Other income (expense):
   Interest expense                                       (11,665)           (10,244)            (9,647)
   Interest and investment income                             984              1,601                658
   Other - net                                              2,637              3,096              2,845
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           (8,044)            (5,547)            (6,144)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes                                 83,408             71,438             38,927


Income taxes:
   Current                                                 30,510             23,476             21,219
   Deferred                                                (1,734)               456             (3,117)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           28,776             23,932             18,102
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME                                               $ 54,632           $ 47,506           $ 20,825
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


COMMON SHARES                                              32,455             33,048             33,084
Incremental common shares attributable to
outstanding stock options, nonvested stock, and
deferred stock-based compensation                             312                436                238
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON SHARES AND COMMON SHARE EQUIVALENTS                 32,767             33,484             33,322
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE                                    $1.68              $1.44               $.63
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE                                  $1.67              $1.42               $.62
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


Exhibit 13-c

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET


OCTOBER 29, 2000 AND OCTOBER 31, 1999                                                      2000                1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
ASSETS
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                          $     785           $  16,030
   Marketable securities                                                                     30                  30
   Receivables                                                                          191,371             170,519
   Inventories                                                                          134,922             119,504
   Deferred income taxes                                                                 32,747              28,563
   Prepaid expenses                                                                       9,383               6,670
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                                                              369,238             341,316

Property, plant and equipment - net                                                     126,910             128,639
Intangible assets - net                                                                  93,763             101,388
Deferred income taxes                                                                     7,679               8,839
Other assets                                                                             12,450              11,608
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      $ 610,040           $ 591,790
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
   Notes payable                                                                      $  91,697           $ 137,311
   Accounts payable                                                                      74,151              35,849
   Income taxes payable                                                                   4,095               2,947
   Accrued liabilities                                                                   65,305              59,345
   Customer advance payments                                                             10,226               4,752
   Current maturities of long-term debt                                                   4,230               7,822
   Current obligations under capital leases                                               3,304               3,914
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                         253,008             251,940

Long-term debt                                                                           57,498              61,762
Obligations under capital leases                                                          3,302               4,213
Pension and retirement obligations                                                       47,484              49,549
Other liabilities                                                                         1,525               2,928

Shareholders' equity:
   Preferred shares, no par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued                 --                  --
   Common shares, no par value; 80,000,000 shares authorized;
      49,011,000 shares issued                                                           12,253              12,253
   Capital in excess of stated value                                                    103,142              97,167
   Retained earnings                                                                    493,273             455,494
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                 (11,946)             (7,521)
   Common shares in treasury, at cost                                                  (348,979)           (335,656)
   Deferred stock-based compensation                                                       (520)               (339)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                        247,223             221,398
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      $ 610,040           $ 591,790
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


Exhibit 13-d

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 29, 2000, OCTOBER 31, 1999
AND NOVEMBER 1, 1998                                                       2000               1999               1998
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
   Net income                                                          $ 54,632           $ 47,506           $ 20,825
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
      provided by operating activities:
         Non-recurring charges                                            1,528              3,000             32,960
         Depreciation                                                    24,276             22,257             18,414
         Amortization                                                     6,049              7,043              6,589
         Provision for losses on receivables                              1,110              1,374              1,022
         Deferred income taxes                                           (3,077)               215             (1,152)
         Other                                                            5,254              1,165              1,718
         Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
            Receivables                                                 (33,494)            (2,378)               598
            Inventories                                                 (20,606)             6,126             (5,210)
            Other current assets                                         (3,089)             1,234              2,155
            Other non-current assets                                        387             (3,218)            (3,842)
            Accounts payable                                             40,559                836             (5,534)
            Income taxes payable                                          2,480               (997)             1,204
            Accrued liabilities                                           6,314              3,178             (5,720)
            Customer advance payments                                     5,753            (11,942)             2,183
            Other non-current liabilities                                (3,100)             5,905              3,984
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Net cash provided by operating activities                          84,976             81,304             70,194

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Additions to property, plant and equipment                           (23,645)           (45,644)           (15,436)
   Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment                       82                151                441
   Acquisition of businesses                                                 --            (26,624)           (37,021)
   Proceeds from sales or maturities of marketable securities                --                 --                170
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Net cash used in investing activities                             (23,563)           (72,117)           (51,846)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
   Net proceeds from (repayment of) short-term borrowings               (37,688)            40,867             18,921
   Proceeds from long-term debt                                              --              2,590              5,000
   Repayment of long-term debt                                           (7,822)              (850)            (8,245)
   Repayment of capital lease obligations                                (4,031)            (4,665)            (5,320)
   Issuance of common shares                                              9,768              6,641             21,431
   Purchase of treasury shares                                          (17,651)           (29,121)           (29,987)
   Dividends paid                                                       (16,853)           (15,899)           (14,527)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Net cash used in financing activities                             (74,277)              (437)           (12,727)

   Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                               (2,381)               460               (318)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                        (15,245)             9,210              5,303
   Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                        16,030              6,820              1,517
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                            $    785           $ 16,030           $  6,820
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


Exhibit 13-e

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                       COMMON  SHARES                                         ACCUMULATED
                                         IN TREASURY               CAPITAL IN                    OTHER         DEFERRED
YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 29, 2000,          ----------------   COMMON    EXCESS OF     RETAINED   COMPREHENSIVE   STOCK-BASED
OCTOBER 31, 1999 AND NOVEMBER 1, 1998  SHARES    AMOUNT   SHARES  STATED VALUE    EARNINGS        LOSS       COMPENSATION    TOTAL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
BALANCE AT NOVEMBER 2, 1997             7,667  $(283,816) $12,253   $ 75,899      $417,589      $   (977)        $(403)    $220,545
   Net income                                                                       20,825                                   20,825
   Translation adjustments                                                                        (3,815)                    (3,815)
                                                                                                                            --------
      Total comprehensive income                                                                                             17,010
   Shares issued for acquisition
      of new business and under
      company stock and employee
      benefit plans                      (570)     8,058              16,131                                      (135)      24,054
   Amortization of deferred
      stock-based compensation                                                                                     303          303
   Purchase of treasury shares            669    (32,610)                                                                   (32,610)
   Dividends - $.44 per share                                                      (14,527)                                 (14,527)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE AT NOVEMBER 1, 1998             7,766   (308,368)  12,253     92,030       423,887        (4,792)         (235)     214,775

   Net income                                                                       47,506                                   47,506
   Translation adjustments                                                                        (2,729)                    (2,729)
                                                                                                                            --------
      Total comprehensive income                                                                                             44,777
   Shares issued for acquisition
      of new business and under
      company stock and employee
      benefit plans                      (206)     3,931               5,137                                      (329)       8,739
   Amortization of deferred
      stock-based compensation                                                                                     225          225
   Purchase of treasury shares            579    (31,219)                                                                   (31,219)
   Dividends - $.48 per share                                                      (15,899)                                 (15,899)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 31, 1999             8,139   (335,656)  12,253     97,167       455,494        (7,521)         (339)     221,398

   Net income                                                                       54,632                                   54,632
   Translation adjustments                                                                        (4,425)                    (4,425)
                                                                                                                            --------
      Total comprehensive income                                                                                             50,207
   2-for-1 stock split                  8,138
   Shares issued under company stock
      and employee benefit plans         (542)     5,988               5,975                                      (535)      11,428
   Amortization of deferred
      stock-based compensation                                                                                     354          354
   Purchase of treasury shares                   (19,311)                                                                   (19,311)
   Dividends - $.52 per share             827                                      (16,853)                                 (16,853)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 29, 2000            16,562  $(348,979) $12,253   $103,142      $493,273      $(11,946)        $(520)    $247,223
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


Exhibit 13-f

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 -- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

CONSOLIDATION -- The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Ownership interests of 20 percent or more in non-controlled affiliates are accounted for by the equity method. Other investments are recorded at cost.

USE OF ESTIMATES -- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and notes. Actual amounts could differ from these estimates.

FISCAL YEAR -- The fiscal year for the Company's domestic operations ends on the Sunday closest to October 31 and contained 52 weeks in 2000, 1999 and 1998. To facilitate reporting of consolidated accounts, the fiscal year for most of the Company's international operations ends on September 30.

REVENUE RECOGNITION -- Revenues are recognized when customer orders are complete and shipped. Accruals for the cost of product warranties are maintained for anticipated future claims.

ADVERTISING COSTS -- Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and amounted to $4,973,000 in 2000 ($6,621,000 in 1999 and $5,669,000 in 1998).

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT -- Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and amounted to $27,222,000 in 2000 ($29,672,000 in 1999 and $42,640,000 in 1998). The 1998 amount includes $14,300,000 of acquired research and development.

EARNINGS PER SHARE -- Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each year, while diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding. Common share equivalents consist of shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's stock options, computed using the treasury stock method, as well as nonvested stock and deferred stock-based compensation.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS -- Highly liquid instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less at date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost.

MARKETABLE SECURITIES -- Marketable securities consist primarily of municipal and other short-term notes with maturities greater than 90 days at date of purchase. At October 29, 2000, all contractual maturities were within one year. The Company's marketable securities are classified as available for sale and recorded at quoted market prices which approximate cost.

INVENTORIES -- Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost has been determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for 44 percent of consolidated inventories at October 29, 2000 (42 percent at October 31, 1999). The first-in, first-out (FIFO) method is used for all other inventories. Consolidated inventories would have been $7,245,000 and $8,207,000 higher than reported at October 29, 2000 and October 31, 1999, respectively, had the Company used the FIFO method, which approximates current cost, for valuation of all inventories.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT AND DEPRECIATION -- Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. Plant and equipment are depreciated for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or, in the case of property under capital leases, over the terms of the leases.

The Company capitalizes costs associated with the development and installation of internal use software in accordance with Statement of Position 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." Accordingly, internal use software costs are expensed or capitalized depending on whether they are incurred in the preliminary project stage, application development stage, or the post-implementation stage. Amounts capitalized are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the software beginning with the project's completion. All reengineering costs are expensed as incurred. The Company capitalizes interest costs on significant capital projects.

The Company capitalized approximately $25.7 million in fiscal 1999 and 2000 in connection with the acquisition and installation of an enterprise management system. The majority of the system became operational in March 2000 and is being depreciated over 10 years.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS -- Intangibles, consisting primarily of costs in excess of net assets of acquired businesses, are amortized using the straight-line method over the periods of expected benefit. At present, these periods range from five to 35 years. The Company assesses the recoverability of the costs in excess of net assets of acquired businesses by reviewing for impairment losses whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recovered through future net undiscounted cash flows generated by the assets.


FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION -- The financial statements of the Company's subsidiaries outside the United States, except for those subsidiaries located in highly inflationary economies, are generally measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet dates. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. The resulting translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income
(loss), a separate component of shareholders' equity. Generally, gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, including forward contracts, of these subsidiaries and the United States parent are included in net income. Premiums and discounts on forward contracts are amortized over the lives of the contracts. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions which hedge a net investment in a foreign subsidiary and from intercompany foreign currency transactions of a long-term investment nature are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies, gains and losses from foreign currency transactions and translation adjustments are included in net income.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME -- Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at October 29, 2000, October 31, 1999 and November 1, 1998 consisted entirely of foreign currency translation adjustments.

PRESENTATION -- Certain 1999 and 1998 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2000 presentation.

NOTE 2 -- ACCOUNTING CHANGES

In 1998, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." Statement 128 replaced the previously reported primary and fully diluted earnings per share with basic and diluted earnings per share. Unlike primary earnings per share, basic earnings per share excludes any dilutive effects of options, warrants and convertible securities. Diluted earnings per share is very similar to the previously reported fully diluted earnings per share. All earnings per share amounts for all periods have been presented and where necessary restated to conform to Statement 128 requirements.

In 1999, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" (FAS 130); Statement No. 131, "Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" (FAS 131); and Statement No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures About Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits" (FAS 132). FAS 130 establishes standards for reporting comprehensive income, FAS 131 requires reporting certain information about operating segments, and FAS 132 revises employers' disclosures about pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements" which summarizes the staff's views regarding the application of generally accepted accounting principles to selected revenue recognition issues and is effective for the first quarter of the Company's fiscal year 2001. This Bulletin will not have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company.

In June 2000, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 138, "Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities" (FAS 138) which amends Statement No. 133, "Accounting and Reporting Standards for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" (FAS 133). FAS 133 requires an entity to measure all derivatives at fair value and to recognize them on the balance sheet as an asset or liability, depending on the entity's rights or obligations under the applicable derivative contract. The Company must adopt FAS 138 for fiscal year 2001. This Statement will not have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company.

NOTE 3 -- RETIREMENT, PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

RETIREMENT PLANS -- The parent company and certain subsidiaries have funded contributory retirement plans covering certain employees. The Company's contributions are primarily determined by the terms of the plans subject to the limitation that they shall not exceed the amounts deductible for income tax purposes. The Company also sponsors an unfunded contributory supplemental retirement plan for certain employees. Generally, benefits under these plans vest gradually over a period of approximately five years from date of employment, and are based on the employee's contribution. The expense applicable to retirement plans for 2000, 1999, and 1998 was approximately $3,326,000, $3,913,000, and $4,446,000 respectively.


PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS -- The Company has various pension plans which cover substantially all employees. Pension plan benefits are generally based on years of employment and, for salaried employees, the level of compensation. The Company contributes actuarially determined amounts to domestic plans to provide sufficient assets to meet future benefit payment requirements. The Company also sponsors an unfunded supplemental pension plan for certain employees. The Company's international subsidiaries fund their pension plans according to local requirements.

The Company also has an unfunded postretirement benefit plan covering substantially all employees. The plan provides medical and life insurance benefits. The plan is contributory, with retiree contributions adjusted annually, and contains other cost-sharing features such as deductibles and coinsurance.

A reconciliation of the benefit obligations, plan assets, accrued benefit cost and the amount recognized in financial statements for these plans is as follows:

                                                                        PENSION BENEFITS              OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
                                                                  ---------------------------         -----------------------------
                                                                       2000              1999             2000                 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            (In thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year                            $104,460          $ 95,213         $ 13,306             $ 14,532
  Service cost                                                        3,604             3,733              643                  620
  Interest cost                                                       6,688             6,482            1,110                  923
  Amendments                                                             --             1,900               --                   --
  Assumption change                                                      --                --               --               (1,734)
  Foreign currency exchange rate change                              (1,883)              746               --                   --
  Actuarial loss (gain)                                              (6,856)              253            2,130                 (616)
  Curtailment                                                            --                --             (348)                  --
  Benefits paid from plan assets                                     (6,041)           (3,867)            (633)                (419)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit obligation at end of year                                  $ 99,972          $104,460         $ 16,208             $ 13,306
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Change in plan assets:
Beginning fair value of plan assets                                $ 74,604          $ 71,571         $     --             $     --
  Actual return on plan assets                                        4,267             6,187               --                   --
  Company contributions                                               5,233               853              633                  419
  Foreign currency exchange rate change                              (1,017)             (140)              --                   --
  Benefits paid from plan assets                                     (6,041)           (3,867)            (633)                (419)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending fair value of plan assets                                   $ 77,046          $ 74,604         $     --             $     --
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reconciliation of accrued cost:
Funded status of the plan                                          $(22,926)         $(29,856)        $(16,208)            $(13,306)
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)                                   (8,022)           (1,424)           1,446                 (684)
Unamortized prior service cost                                        3,015             2,519               --                   --
Unrecognized net transition obligation                                1,301              (218)              --                   --
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accrued benefit cost                                               $(26,632)         $(28,979)        $(14,762)            $(13,990)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reconciliation of amount recognized in financial statements:
Prepaid benefit cost                                               $  1,334          $    601         $     --             $     --
Accrued benefit liability                                           (28,223)          (30,499)         (14,762)             (13,990)
Intangible asset                                                        257               919               --                   --
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total amount recognized in financial statements                    $(26,632)         $(28,979)        $(14,762)            $(13,990)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were $88,398,000, $76,264,000 and $64,924,000, respectively as of October 29, 2000 and $92,902,000, $81,854,000 and $63,827,000 as of October 31, 1999.

Net pension and other postretirement benefit costs include the following components:

                                                   PENSION BENEFITS                         OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
                                      ----------------------------------------            ---------------------------------
                                         2000            1999             1998            2000           1999          1998
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            (In thousands)
Service cost                          $ 3,604         $ 3,733          $ 3,473          $  643         $  620        $  379
Interest cost                           6,688           6,482            5,407           1,110            923           882
Expected return on plan assets         (6,585)         (6,100)          (5,814)             --             --            --
Amortization and deferrals                650             397              579              --             --            --
Curtailment                                --              --               --            (348)            --            --
Termination benefit cost                   --             825            7,040              --             --           756
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total benefit cost                    $ 4,357         $ 5,337          $10,685          $1,405         $1,543        $2,017
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For pensions, the actuarial value of projected benefit obligations at the end of 2000 and 1999 was determined using a weighted average discount rate of 7.1 and 6.7 percent, respectively, and a rate of increase in future compensation levels of 3.9 and 3.5 percent, respectively. Plan assets consist primarily of stocks and bonds. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 9.5 percent for 2000 and 1999 and 8.0 percent for 1998.

For other postretirement benefits, the discount rate used in determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at the end of 2000 and 1999 was 7.5 percent. The annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered benefits (the health care cost trend rate) was assumed to be 5.5 percent for 2001, decreasing to 5.0 percent for 2002 and thereafter.

The health care cost trend rate assumption has a significant effect on the amounts reported. For example, a one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effects:

                                                 1% POINT                 1% POINT
                                                 INCREASE                 DECREASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effect on total service and
   interest cost components in 2000             $  376,000             $  (291,000)

Effect on postretirement obligation
    as of October 29, 2000                      $2,947,000             $(2,330,000)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NOTE 4 -- INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense includes the following:

                              2000              1999             1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          (In thousands)
Current:
  U.S. federal             $16,163           $ 8,351           $ 8,444
  State and local            1,261               860               844
  Foreign                   13,086            14,265            11,931
----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total current            30,510            23,476            21,219

Deferred:
  U.S. federal              (2,429)              405            (1,793)
  State and local             (137)              207              (577)
  Foreign                      832              (156)             (747)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total deferred           (1,734)              456            (3,117)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                           $28,776           $23,932           $18,102
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The reconciliation of the United States statutory federal income tax rate to the worldwide consolidated effective tax rate follows:

                                        2000            1999            1998
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statutory federal
  income tax rate                       35.0%           35.0%           35.0%
Acquired research and
  development with no
  tax benefit                             --              --            12.5
Foreign Sales Corporation
  exemption                             (3.7)           (3.7)           (4.4)
Foreign tax rate variances,
  net of foreign tax credits             1.4             3.0             3.9
State and local taxes, net
  of federal income tax
  benefit                                 .8             1.3             (.2)
Amounts related to
  prior years                             .4            (2.2)             --
Other - net                               .6              .1             (.3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective tax rate                      34.5%           33.5%           46.5%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings before income taxes of international operations were $32,580,000, $30,466,000, and $23,209,000 in 2000, 1999, and 1998, respectively. Deferred income taxes are not provided on undistributed earnings of international subsidiaries which are intended to be permanently invested in those operations. These undistributed earnings aggregated approximately $51,567,000 and $52,033,000 at October 29, 2000 and October 31, 1999, respectively. Should these earnings be distributed, applicable foreign tax credits would substantially offset U.S. taxes due upon the distribution. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

                                                      2000             1999
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        (In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
  Sales to international subsidiaries and
   related consolidation adjustments               $14,657          $14,139
  Employee benefits                                 17,582           16,988
  Other accruals not currently deductible
   for taxes                                         9,104            6,600
  Inventory adjustments                              2,412            2,249
  Translation of foreign currency
   accounts                                          3,244            2,110
  Other - net                                          729              504
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total deferred tax assets                        47,728           42,590
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Depreciation                                       6,035            4,149
  Other - net                                        1,267            1,039
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total deferred tax liabilities                    7,302            5,188
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Net deferred tax assets                          $40,426          $37,402
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE 5 -- INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

The Company has an incentive cash compensation plan for executive officers. Participants in the plan and payments under the plan are approved by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors. Members of the committee are directors and are not active officers of the Company. Amounts paid under the plan are based on a percentage of the base salary of each participant. Compensation expense attributable to the plan was $1,870,000 in 2000, $2,018,000 in 1999 and $1,528,000 in 1998.


NOTE 6 -- DETAILS OF BALANCE SHEET

                                                 2000                1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      (In thousands)
Receivables:
  Accounts                                  $ 175,400           $ 153,099
  Notes                                        15,308              17,126
  Other                                         3,488               3,633
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              194,196             173,858
  Allowance for doubtful accounts              (2,825)             (3,339)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $ 191,371           $ 170,519
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inventories:
  Finished goods                            $  38,732           $  38,731
  Work-in-process                              30,433              29,232
  Raw materials and finished parts             65,757              51,541
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $ 134,922           $ 119,504
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Property, plant and equipment:
  Land                                      $   3,102           $   3,225
  Land improvements                             2,774               2,677
  Buildings                                    64,853              66,904
  Machinery and equipment                     142,278             140,598
  Enterprise management
   system                                      25,718                  --
  Construction-in-progress                     12,377              31,310
  Leased property under
   capitalized leases                          12,167              14,035
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                              263,269             258,749
  Accumulated depreciation
   and amortization                          (136,359)           (130,110)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $ 126,910           $ 128,639
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intangible assets:
  Costs in excess of net assets of
   acquired businesses                      $ 126,186           $ 124,728
  Other                                         5,379               8,330
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              131,565             133,058
  Accumulated amortization                    (37,802)            (31,670)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $  93,763           $ 101,388

Accrued liabilities:
  Salaries and other compensation           $  29,392           $  28,795
  Pension and retirement                        3,464               2,782
  Taxes other than income taxes                 5,316               4,563
  Other                                        27,133              23,205
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $  65,305           $  59,345
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE 7 -- LEASES

The Company has lease commitments expiring at various dates, principally for manufacturing, warehouse and office space, automobiles and office equipment. Many leases contain renewal options and some contain purchase options.

The Company is a partner in two unconsolidated general partnerships which own office and manufacturing facilities. The Company has operating leases for these facilities. The leases have initial terms expiring in 2010 and 2016, renewal options and options to purchase the properties at fair market value. Future annual minimum lease payments range from $1,558,000 to $2,156,000 and approximate market rates.

Rent expense for all operating leases was approximately $10,776,000 in 2000, $9,603,000 in 1999, and $8,664,000 in 1998.

Assets held under capitalized leases and included in property, plant and equipment are as follows:

                                      2000               1999
-------------------------------------------------------------
                                          (In thousands)
Transportation equipment           $11,862            $13,036
Other                                  305                999
-------------------------------------------------------------
Total capitalized leases            12,167             14,035
Accumulated amortization            (5,561)            (5,908)
-------------------------------------------------------------
  Net capitalized leases           $ 6,606            $ 8,127
-------------------------------------------------------------

At October 29, 2000, future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable capitalized and operating leases are as follows:

                                         CAPITALIZED      OPERATING
                                           LEASES           LEASES
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                (In thousands)
Fiscal year ending:
  2001                                     $4,333          $ 9,512
  2002                                      2,841            7,879
  2003                                      1,170            6,806
  2004                                        191            5,693
  2005                                         19            5,057
  Later years                                  --           25,075
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total minimum lease payments                8,554          $60,022
                                                           =======

Less amount representing
  executory costs                             767
-------------------------------------------------

Net minimum lease payments                  7,787

Less amount representing interest           1,181
-------------------------------------------------
Present value of net minimum
  lease payments                            6,606

Less current portion                        3,304
-------------------------------------------------
Long-term obligations at
  October 29, 2000                         $3,302
-------------------------------------------------


NOTE 8 -- NOTES PAYABLE

Bank lines of credit and notes payable are summarized as follows:

                                             2000               1999
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 (In thousands)
Available bank lines of credit:
  Domestic banks                         $445,218           $363,645
  Foreign banks                            83,019             96,425
--------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total                                 $528,237           $460,070
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes payable:
  Domestic bank debt                     $ 62,469           $105,495
  Foreign bank debt                        29,056             31,686
  Other                                       172                130
--------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total                                 $ 91,697           $137,311
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Weighted average interest rate
  on notes payable                            4.6%               4.1%

Unused bank lines of credit              $436,712           $322,889
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Included in the domestic available amount above is $335,000,000 of revolving credit agreements with a group of banks. The agreements expire on various dates between 2001 and 2005 and require payment of commitment fees. Other lines of credit obtained by the Company can generally be withdrawn at the option of the banks and do not require material compensating balances or commitment fees. Other notes payable include promissory notes issued in connection with a business acquisition and an equipment purchase.

NOTE 9 -- LONG-TERM DEBT

The long-term debt of the Company is as follows:

                                                  2000             1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    (In thousands)
Senior notes                                   $50,000          $50,000
Industrial revenue bonds--
  Gwinnett County, Georgia                       5,400            6,000
Industrial revenue bonds--
  City of Westlake, Ohio                         1,700            2,550
Acquisition financing notes                      2,780            9,152
Leasehold improvements financing note            1,848            1,882
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                61,728           69,584
Less current maturities                          4,230            7,822
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total                                       $57,498          $61,762
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SENIOR NOTES -- These notes are payable in one installment in 2007. Interest, payable at a fixed rate of 6.78 percent, was converted to a variable rate through an interest rate swap. The variable rate is reset semi-annually, and at October 29, 2000 the Company's effective borrowing rate was 7.15 percent. The swap agreement was terminated after year-end.

INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS -- GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA -- These bonds were issued in connection with the acquisition and renovation of the Norcross Manufacturing Facility in Gwinnett County, Georgia. These bonds are due in annual installments of $600,000, beginning in 2000 and extending through 2009, with interest payable quarterly. The tax-free interest rate varies weekly and was 4.5 percent at October 29, 2000. The bonds are secured by a $6,000,000 standby letter of credit.

INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS -- CITY OF WESTLAKE, OHIO -- These bonds were issued in connection with the construction of the Company's world headquarters in Westlake, Ohio. The bonds are due in annual installments of $850,000 extending through 2002 with interest payable quarterly. The tax-free interest rate varies weekly and was 4.5 percent at October 29, 2000. The bonds are secured by a $1,773,000 standby letter of credit.

ACQUISITION FINANCING NOTES -- These unsecured notes were issued in connection with recent business acquisitions. They have various maturities through 2001. Interest is payable at variable rates with a weighted-average rate of 7.05 percent at October 29, 2000.

LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS FINANCING NOTE -- This note partially funded the leasehold improvements for a new sales and demonstration facility in Japan. The principal balance is Japanese (Yen)200 million and is payable in one installment in 2006. Interest, payable at a fixed rate of 3.10 percent, was converted to a variable rate through an interest rate swap. The variable rate is reset semi-annually, and at October 29, 2000 the Company's effective borrowing rate was negative .19 percent.

ANNUAL MATURITIES -- The annual maturities of long-term debt for the five years subsequent to October 29, 2000 are as follows: $4,230,000 in 2001; $1,450,000 in 2002; $600,000 in 2003; $600,000 in 2004; and $600,000 in 2005.

GUARANTEES -- At October 29, 2000 and October 31, 1999, the Company had issued $3,520,000 and $3,311,000, respectively, of guarantees to support the term borrowing facilities of an unconsolidated affiliate.


NOTE 10 -- FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's financial instruments, other than receivables and accounts payable, are as follows:

                                     CARRYING       FAIR
                                      AMOUNT        VALUE
-----------------------------------------------------------
                                          (In thousands)
2000:
  Cash and cash equivalents          $     785    $     785
  Marketable securities                     30           30
  Notes payable                       (91, 697)     (91,697)
  Long-term debt                       (61,728)     (58,936)
  Forward exchange contracts               108          210
  Interest rate swaps                       --          448
-----------------------------------------------------------

1999:
  Cash and cash equivalents          $  16,030    $  16,030
  Marketable securities                     30           30
  Notes payable                       (137,311)    (137,311)
  Long-term debt                       (69,584)     (65,066)
  Forward exchange contracts              (145)        (370)
  Interest rate swaps                       --         (637)
-----------------------------------------------------------

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of financial instruments:

- Cash, cash equivalents and notes payable are valued at their carrying amounts due to the relatively short period to maturity of the instruments.

- Marketable securities are valued at quoted market prices.

- Long-term debt is valued by discounting future cash flows at currently available rates for borrowing arrangements with similar terms and conditions.

- The fair value of forward exchange contracts is estimated using quoted exchange rates of comparable contracts.

- The fair value of interest rate swaps is estimated using valuation techniques based on discounted future cash flows.

The Company operates internationally and enters into transactions denominated in foreign currencies. As a result, the Company is subject to the transaction exposures that arise from exchange rate movements between the dates foreign currency transactions are recorded and the dates they are settled. The Company enters into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to reduce these risks, and not for trading purposes. The maturities of these contracts are generally less than one year and usually less than 90 days.

The carrying amount of these forward contracts is included in receivables at the differential between the contract rates and the spot rates. Gains and losses from foreign currency forward contracts are included in other income/expense. The contracts require the Company to buy or sell foreign currencies, usually in exchange for U.S. dollars. The following table summarizes, by currency, the contractual amounts of the Company's forward exchange contracts at October 29, 2000:

                                         2000                               1999
                                 SELL             BUY              SELL             BUY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     (In thousands)
Contract amount:
  Japanese yen                 $ 9,729          $   467          $22,549          $11,010
  Euro                          15,386            2,577           21,221           17,147
  Pound sterling                 8,340              558           10,805              983
  German marcs                      --               --            5,556              804
  French francs                     --               --            3,322               --
  Netherland guilders               --            2,396               --               --
  Other                          6,917            4,800            9,952            5,259
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total                     $40,372          $10,798          $73,405          $35,203
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To manage interest rate exposure on outstanding balances of long-term debt, the Company enters into interest rate swaps under which it receives a fixed rate and pays a variable rate. No carrying value is assigned to these swaps. Net amounts to be paid or received under these agreements are recognized as adjustments to interest expense. A swap on Japanese (Yen)200 million of underlying principal expires in 2006. A swap on $50 million of underlying principal was terminated after year-end.

The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to financial instruments. The Company invests in securities with strong credit ratings and uses major banks throughout the world for cash deposits, forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps. The Company's customers represent a wide variety of industries and geographic regions. As of October 29, 2000, there were no significant concentrations of credit risk.


NOTE 11 -- CAPITAL SHARES

PREFERRED -- The Company has authorized 10,000,000 Series A convertible preferred shares without par value. No preferred shares were outstanding in 2000, 1999 or 1998.

COMMON -- On August 1, 2000, the Board of Directors declared a 2-for-1 stock split on the Company's common stock, paid in the form of a 100 percent stock dividend on September 12, 2000, for all shares outstanding on August 25, 2000. Accordingly, all per-share amounts, common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding used in the calculation of per-share amounts and stock option information have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the stock split.

The Company has 80,000,000 authorized common shares without par value. In March 1992, the shareholders adopted an amendment to the Company's articles of incorporation which, when filed with the State of Ohio, would increase the number of authorized common shares to 160,000,000. During 2000 and 1999, there were 49,011,000 common shares issued. At October 29, 2000 and October 31, 1999, the number of outstanding common shares, net of treasury shares, was 32,449,000. Treasury shares are reissued using the first-in, first-out method.

NOTE 12 -- COMPANY STOCK PLANS

LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE PLAN -- The Company's long-term performance plan, adopted in 1993, provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock purchase rights, stock equivalent units, cash awards, and other stock or performance-based incentives. The number of common shares available for grant of awards is 3.0 percent of the number of common shares outstanding as of the first day of each fiscal year, plus up to an additional 0.5 percent, consisting of shares available, but not granted, in prior years. At the beginning of fiscal 2001, there were 1,136,000 shares available for grant in 2001.

STOCK OPTIONS -- The Company may grant non-qualified or incentive stock options to employees and directors of the Company. Generally, the options may be exercised beginning one year from the date of grant at a rate not exceeding 25 percent per year, and the options expire 10 years from the date of grant. Vesting accelerates upon the occurrence of events which involve or may result in a change of control of the Company.

The Company uses the intrinsic value method to account for employee stock options. No compensation expense has been recognized because the exercise price of the Company's stock options equals the market price of the underlying common shares on the date of grant. Tax benefits arising from the exercise of non-qualified stock options are recognized when realized and credited to capital in excess of stated value.

Summarized transactions are as follows:

                                                              WEIGHTED
                                                              AVERAGE
                                                              EXERCISE
                                          NUMBER OF            PRICE
                                           OPTIONS           PER SHARE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at November 2, 1997           4,352,622           $24.92
Granted                                   1,093,654           $24.40
Exercised                                  (285,272)          $13.13
Forfeited                                  (244,562)          $27.01
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at November 1, 1998           4,916,442           $25.38
Granted                                     928,880           $22.63
Exercised                                  (236,682)          $16.41
Forfeited                                  (125,726)          $27.82
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at October 31, 1999           5,482,914           $25.25
Granted                                     904,256           $22.33
Exercised                                  (346,336)          $16.35
Forfeited                                  (332,498)          $26.14
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at October 29, 2000           5,708,336           $25.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exercisable at October 29, 2000           3,476,640           $26.15
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summarized information on currently outstanding options follows:

                                                  RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICE
                                          $20 - $25        $26 - $30     $31 - $35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number outstanding                        3,062,424        2,532,690       113,222
Weighted-average remaining
  contractual life, in years                    7.1              4.8           6.2
Weighted-average
  exercise price                             $22.90           $27.83        $31.88
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number exercisable                        1,282,432        2,165,666        28,542
Weighted-average
  exercise price                             $23.10           $27.88        $31.88
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share has been determined as if the Company had accounted for employee stock options granted since 1996 under the fair value method. Under this method, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the options' vesting period. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model.


Pro forma and weighted average assumption information follows:

                                               2000                 1999                 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              (In thousands except for per-share amounts)
Net income:
  As reported                               $54,632              $47,506              $20,825
  Pro forma                                 $50,876              $43,572              $18,335
Diluted earnings per share:
  As reported                               $  1.67              $  1.42              $   .62
  Pro forma                                 $  1.58              $  1.31              $   .55
Weighted-average fair value
  of options granted during
  the year                                  $  7.20              $  7.60              $  7.49
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Risk-free interest rate                   5.57-5.94%           5.91-6.17%           4.87-6.44%
Expected life of option,
  in years                                        7                    7                  6.5
Expected dividend yield                        1.50%                1.35%                1.25%
Expected volatility                             .24                  .23                  .22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS -- The Company may grant stock appreciation rights to employees. A stock appreciation right provides for a payment equal to the excess of the fair market value of a common share when the right is exercised, over its value when the right was granted. There were no stock appreciation rights outstanding during 2000, 1999 and 1998.

Limited stock appreciation rights that become exercisable upon the occurrence of events which involve or may result in a change of control of the Company have been granted with respect to 5,708,000 shares.

RESTRICTED STOCK -- The Company may grant restricted stock to employees. These shares may not be disposed of for a designated period of time defined at the date of grant and are to be returned to the Company if the recipient's employment terminates during the restriction period. As shares are issued, deferred stock-based compensation equivalent to the market value on the date of grant is charged to shareholders' equity and subsequently amortized over the restriction period. Tax benefits arising from the lapse of restrictions on the stock are recognized when realized and credited to capital in excess of stated value. In 2000, there were 26,812 restricted shares granted at a weighted average fair value of $22.19 per share (11,888 and $25.58 in 1999 and 7,400 and $24.94 in 1998). Net amortization was $354,000 in 2000 ($225,000 in 1999 and $303,000 in 1998).

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS -- The Company may grant stock purchase rights to employees. These rights permit eligible employees to purchase a limited number of common shares at a discount from fair market value. No stock purchase rights were outstanding during 2000, 1999 and 1998.

EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN -- The Company sponsored an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) covering all domestic employees. Company contributions were discretionary and funded annually by a combination of cash and shares of the Company's common stock. Allocations to the participants' accounts were made on December 31 on the basis of their compensation for the year. Each participant vested in his account at a rate of 20 percent per year from date of employment. Distribution of a participant's account occurs at retirement, death, or termination of employment.

The ESOP was merged into the Company's domestic retirement plan in fiscal year 2000. ESOP compensation expense was $167,000 in the first two months of 2000, $1,325,000 in 1999 and $685,000 in 1998. Contributions to the plan were $1,167,000,$1,063,000 and $-0- in 2000, 1999, and 1998, respectively. The number of allocated ESOP shares outstanding was 868,000 at October 29, 2000 and 884,000 at October 31, 1999.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN -- In August 1988, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of one common share purchase right for each common share outstanding on September 9, 1988. Rights are also distributed with common shares issued by the Company after that date. The rights may only be exercised if a party acquires 15 percent or more of the Company's common shares. The exercise price of each right is $87.50 per share. The rights trade with the shares until the rights become exercisable, unless the Board of Directors sets an earlier date for the distribution of separate right certificates.

If a party acquires at least 15 percent of the Company's common shares (a "flip-in" event), each right then becomes the right to purchase two common shares of the Company for $.50 per share.

The rights may be redeemed by the Company at a price of $.005 per right at any time prior to a "flip-in" event, or expiration of the rights on October 31, 2007.

SHARES RESERVED FOR FUTURE ISSUANCE -- At October 29, 2000, there were 84,042,000 shares reserved for future issuance through the exercise of outstanding options or rights, including 77,661,000 shares under the shareholder rights plan.


NOTE 13 -- NON-RECURRING CHARGES

During 2000, Nordson recognized non-recurring pre-tax charges of $9.0 million ($5.9 million on an after-tax basis or $.18 per share). The charges consist of severance payments and were recorded below selling and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

During the fourth quarter of 1999, Nordson recognized non-recurring pre-tax charges of $3.0 million ($2.0 million on an after-tax basis or $.06 per share). The charges consist of severance payments and supplemental pension obligations and were recorded below selling and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

During 1998, Nordson recognized non-recurring pre-tax charges of $33.0 million ($26.6 million on an after-tax basis or $.80 per share). The charges consist of $14.3 million for the portion of the purchase price paid for JM Laboratories, Inc. attributable to in-process research and development, $9.8 million for an early retirement program, involuntary severances and fixed-asset write-downs, $6.9 million related to inventory valuations, and $2.0 million for costs associated with the consolidation of European operations. Amounts related to inventories were charged to cost of sales. The remainder of the charges was recorded below selling and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

NOTE 14 -- ACQUISITIONS

Business acquisitions have been accounted for as purchases, with the acquired assets and liabilities recorded at their estimated fair value at the dates of acquisition. The cost in excess of the net assets of the business acquired is included in intangible assets.

In January 1999 and March 1999, the Company acquired manufacturers of systems that use gas plasma technology. In July 1999, the Company acquired a manufacturer of cold adhesive application equipment and verification systems, and in September 1999, a manufacturer of ultraviolet curing lamps.

In September 1998, the Company acquired a manufacturer of melt-blowing systems used to produce synthetic nonwoven fabrics, and adhesive dispensing equipment used for nonwoven products.

The cost of acquisitions amounted to $29,213,000 in 1999 and $39,543,000 in 1998. The 1998 amount includes the issuance of 872,000 shares which had a value of $19,939,000. Operating results of these acquisitions are included in the Consolidated Statement of Income from the respective dates of acquisition. Assuming the acquisitions had taken place at the beginning of 1999 and 1998, pro forma results for 1999 and 1998, respectively, would not be materially different.

NOTE 15-- SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

                                           2000             1999              1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     (In thousands)
Cash operating activities:
  Interest paid                         $12,010          $ 9,417           $ 9,692
  Income taxes paid                      27,764           28,501            18,673
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncash investing and
  financing activities:
   Capitalized lease
     obligations incurred               $ 4,179          $ 5,757           $ 5,822
   Capitalized lease
     obligations terminated                 954            1,102             1,018
   Shares acquired and
     issued through exercise
     of stock options                     1,660            2,098             2,623
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Noncash assets and liabilities
  of businesses acquired:
   Working capital                      $    --          $ 4,901           $  (897)
   Property, plant and
     equipment                               --            1,032             2,232
   Intangibles and other                     --           21,279            41,254
   Long-term debt and
     other liabilities                       --             (588)           (5,568)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        $    --          $26,624           $37,021
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NOTE 16 -- OPERATING SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA DATA

Effective October 31, 1999, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" (FAS 131). This statement requires the presentation of descriptive information about reportable segments that is consistent with the way management operates the Company. Previously reported segment and geographic information has been restated to conform with FAS No. 131 requirements.

The Company conducts business across three primary businesses: adhesive dispensing and nonwoven fiber, coating and finishing and advanced technology. The composition of segments and measure of segment profitability is consistent with that used by the Company's management. The primary measurement focus is operating profit, which equals sales less operating costs and expenses. Operating profit excludes interest income (expense), investment income (net) and other income (expense). Items below the operating income line of the Consolidated Statement of Income are not presented by segment, since they are excluded from the measure of segment profitability reviewed by the Company's management. The accounting policies of the segments are generally the same as those described in Note 1, Significant Accounting Policies.

End markets for Nordson products include food and beverage, metal furniture, appliances, electronic components, disposable nonwovens products and automotive components. Nordson sells its products primarily through a direct, geographically dispersed sales force.

No single customer accounted for more than 5.0 percent of the Company's sales in 2000, 1999 or 1998.

The following table presents information about Nordson's reportable segments:

                                               ADHESIVE
                                              DISPENSING
                                             AND NONWOVEN      COATING AND       ADVANCED
                                                FIBER           FINISHING       TECHNOLOGY     CORPORATE         TOTAL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      (In thousands)
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 29, 2000
Net external sales                             $463,552         $145,943         $131,073      $     --         $740,568
Depreciation                                     11,562            4,687            3,596         4,431           24,276
Operating profit                                114,075            9,479           20,789       (52,891)(a)       91,452
Identifiable assets(c)                          257,671           86,033           68,396       230,931 (b)      643,031
Expenditures for long-lived assets(d)             7,320            2,347            3,109        10,869           23,645
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1999
Net external sales                             $443,799         $152,866         $103,800      $     --         $700,465
Depreciation                                     12,542            4,452            3,256         2,007           22,257
Operating profit                                 95,378            5,580            9,601       (33,574)(a)       76,985
Identifiable assets(c)                          250,206           84,491           57,670       230,663 (b)      623,030
Expenditures for long-lived assets(d)            10,045            3,390            4,165        28,044           45,644
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1, 1998
Net external sales                             $413,171         $160,805         $ 86,924      $     --         $660,900
Depreciation                                     10,891            4,241            1,933         1,349           18,414
Operating profit                                 86,635            8,696            8,685       (58,945)(a)       45,071
Identifiable assets(c)                          244,531           91,912           36,179       211,141 (b)      583,763
Expenditures for long-lived assets(d)             6,626            2,991            3,798         2,021           15,436
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) Includes $33.0 million of non-recurring charges that were taken during 1998, $3.0 million of severance payments and supplemental pension obligations in 1999 and $9.0 million of severance costs in 2000. These charges were not allocated to reportable segments for management reporting purposes.
(b) Corporate assets are principally cash and cash equivalents, domestic deferred income taxes, investments, capital leases, headquarter facilities and the major portion of the Company's domestic enterprise management system.
(c) Includes notes and accounts receivable net of customer advance payments and allowance for doubtful accounts, inventories net of reserves and property, plant and equipment net of accumulated depreciation.
(d) Long-lived assets consist of property, plant and equipment and capital lease assets.


The Company has significant sales and long-lived assets in the following geographic areas:

                                    2000            1999            1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            (In thousands)
Net external sales
  North America(a)              $351,098        $328,573        $291,788
  Europe                         231,712         243,463         251,539
  Japan                           79,443          68,579          63,378
  Pacific South                   78,315          59,850          54,195
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net external sales        $740,568        $700,465        $660,900
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long-lived assets
  North America(b)              $108,311        $106,054        $ 77,789
  Europe                          10,241          13,281          14,555
  Japan                            5,392           5,771           4,887
  Pacific South                    2,966           3,533           3,952
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total long-lived assets         $126,910        $128,639        $101,183
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) Net external sales in the United States for 2000, 1999 and 1998 were $330.2 million, $307.7 million and $273.9 million, respectively.
(b) Long-lived assets in the United States for 2000, 1999 and 1998 were $108.2 million, $105.9 million and $77.6 million, respectively.

A reconciliation of total segment operating income to total consolidated income before income taxes is as follows:

                                          2000             1999            1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     (In thousands)
Total profit for reportable
  segments                            $ 91,452         $ 76,985         $45,071
Interest expense                       (11,665)         (10,244)         (9,647)
Interest and investment income             984            1,601             658
Other net                                2,637            3,096           2,845
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated income before
  income taxes                        $ 83,408         $ 71,438         $38,927
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A reconciliation of total assets for reportable segments to total consolidated assets is as follows:

                                           2000             1999             1998
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     (In thousands)
Total assets for reportable
  segments                             $643,031         $623,030         $583,763
Plus: customer advance payments           9,961            4,752           16,662
Eliminations                            (42,952)         (35,992)         (61,481)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total consolidated assets              $610,040         $591,790         $538,944
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE 17 -- SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On October 30, 2000, the Company completed the acquisition of EFD, Inc., a privately held East Providence, Rhode Island-based manufacturer of precision, low-pressure, industrial dispensing valves and components. The purchase price approximated $280 million. The majority of the purchase was financed with short-term credit facilities. Internally generated cash flow of the Company and EFD, Inc. will be used to pay down this debt. The acquisition will be accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. EFD, Inc. is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and will be consolidated with the results of the Company beginning in fiscal 2001.

The following unaudited pro forma data summarize the results of operations of the Company and EFD, Inc. as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2000 and 1999.

                                       2000                               1999
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (In thousands except for per-share information)
Results of operations:
  Net sales                        $801,892                            $754,646
  Net income                       $ 54,056                            $ 44,757
  Basic earnings per share            $1.67                               $1.35
  Diluted earnings per share          $1.65                               $1.34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NOTE 18 -- QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

QUARTER                        FIRST          SECOND           THIRD          FOURTH
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   (In thousands except for per-share amounts)
2000:
  Sales                      $152,888        $186,647        $184,104        $216,929
  Cost of sales                66,721          84,653          82,299          98,924
  Net income                    4,768          12,897          14,967          22,000

  Earnings per share:
     Basic                       $.15            $.40            $.47            $.68
     Diluted                      .15             .40             .46             .67
     Diluted before
        non-recurring
        charges                   .20             .48             .48             .69
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1999:
  Sales                      $157,053        $174,766        $174,411        $194,235
  Cost of sales                72,631          77,884          78,652          89,063
  Net income                    6,984          13,024          13,389          14,109

  Earnings per share:
     Basic                       $.21            $.40            $.41            $.43
     Diluted                      .21             .39             .40             .43
     Diluted before
        non-recurring
        charges                   .21             .39             .40             .49
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Domestic operations report results using four 13-week quarters. International subsidiaries report results using calendar quarters. The sum of the per-share amounts for the four quarters of 2000 and 1999 do not equal the annual per-share amounts as a result of the timing of treasury stock purchases and the effect of stock options granted by the Company.

During 2000, the Company recognized non-recurring pre-tax charges of $2.8 million in the first quarter ($1.9 million after-tax), $3.9 million in the second quarter ($2.6 million after-tax), $1.0 million in the third quarter ($.6 million after-tax) and $1.2 million in the fourth quarter ($.8 million after-tax).

In the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company recognized non-recurring pre-tax charges of $3.0 million ($2.0 million after-tax).


Exhibit 13-g

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Nordson Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Nordson Corporation as of October 29, 2000 and October 31, 1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 29, 2000. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the 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 consolidated financial position of Nordson Corporation at October 29, 2000 and October 31, 1999, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 29, 2000 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
December 6, 2000


Exhibit 13-h

ELEVEN-YEAR SUMMARY

                                                                                  2000              1999              1998(g)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT FOR PER-SHARE AMOUNTS)
OPERATING DATA (a)
   Sales                                                                      $740,568           700,465           660,900
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Cost of sales                                                              $332,597           318,230           303,671(d)
   % of sales                                                                       45                45                46
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Selling and administrative expenses                                        $307,559           302,250           286,120
   % of sales                                                                       42                43                43
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Operating profit                                                           $ 91,452(e)         76,985(e)         45,071(d)
   % of sales                                                                       12                11                 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Income before cumulative effect of accounting changes
      and non-recurring charges                                               $ 60,501(e)         49,501(e)         47,440(d)
   % of sales                                                                        8                 7                 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net income                                                                 $ 54,632            47,506            20,825
   % of sales                                                                        7                 7                 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL DATA (a)
   Working capital                                                            $116,230            89,376           121,394
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net property, plant and equipment and
      other non-current assets                                                $240,802           250,474           210,468
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total invested capital                                                     $357,032           339,850           331,862
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total assets                                                               $610,040           591,790           538,944
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Long-term obligations                                                      $109,809           118,452           117,087
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Shareholders' equity                                                       $247,223           221,398           214,775
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Return on average invested capital-- % (b)                                       20                16                16
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Return on average shareholders' equity-- % (c)                                   27                23                22
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER-SHARE DATA (a) (f)
   Basic earnings per share:
       Income before cumulative effect of accounting changes
          and non-recurring charges                                              $1.86(e)           1.50(e)           1.43(d)
       Net income                                                                $1.68              1.44               .63
   Diluted earnings per share:
       Income before cumulative effect of accounting changes
          and non-recurring charges                                              $1.85(e)           1.48(e)           1.42(d)
       Net income                                                                $1.67              1.42               .62
       Cash earnings per share (i)                                               $1.84              1.60               .76
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Dividends per common share                                                    $ .52               .48               .44
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Book value per common share                                                   $7.62              6.76              6.42
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Common shares                                                                32,455            33,048            33,084
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Common shares and common share equivalents                                   32,767            33,484            33,322
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(b) Income before cumulative effect of accounting changes and non-recurring charges plus interest on long-term obligations net of income taxes, as a percentage of total assets less current liabilities.
(c) Income before cumulative effect of accounting changes and non-recurring charges, as a percentage of shareholders' equity.
(d) Cost of sales includes non-recurring charges related to inventory valuations of $6.9 million. Operating profit also includes non-recurring charges recorded below selling and administrative expenses and consists of $14.3 million for the portion of the purchase price paid for JM Laboratories, Inc. attributable to in-process research and development; $9.8 million for an early retirement program, involuntary severances and fixed-asset write-downs; and $2.0 million for costs associated with the consolidation of European operations.


       1997            1996            1995            1994         1993(h)            1992            1991            1990
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    636,710         609,444         581,444         506,692         461,557         425,618         387,962         344,904
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    276,425         255,095         245,587         212,866         191,575         168,437         158,885         154,653
         43              42              42              42              42              40              41              45
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    286,226         270,088         251,913         219,422         202,608         189,887         170,814         140,450
         45              44              43              43              44              45              44              41
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     74,059          84,261          83,944          74,404          67,374          67,294          58,263          49,801
         12              14              14              15              15              16              15              14
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     49,967          53,071          52,676          46,654          40,775          39,537          33,787          29,346
          8               9               9               9               9               9               9               9
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     49,967          53,071          52,676          46,654          35,991          39,537          33,787          29,346
          8               9               9               9               8               9               9               9
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    139,152         110,486         130,562         126,996         125,391         105,138          87,004          66,093
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    184,181         192,791         148,769         130,637         116,298         114,461         103,015          95,599
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    323,333         303,277         279,331         257,633         241,689         219,599         190,019         161,692
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    502,996         510,493         434,710         380,944         357,970         346,297         296,930         269,523
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    102,788          57,980          48,001          45,209          45,284          41,879          37,305          31,318
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    220,545         245,297         231,330         212,424         196,405         177,720         152,714         130,374
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         18              20              21              20              19              20              21              21
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         22              23              24              24              23              24              25              25
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


       1.45            1.49            1.45            1.25            1.09            1.05             .90             .78
       1.45            1.49            1.45            1.25             .96            1.05             .90             .78

       1.42            1.46            1.42            1.22            1.06            1.02             .88             .76
       1.42            1.46            1.42            1.22             .94            1.02             .88             .76
       1.54            1.55            1.49            1.28            1.00            1.06             .93             .81
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        .40            .36              .32             .28             .24             .22             .20             .18
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       6.55            6.95            6.42            5.77            5.24            4.74            4.07            3.47
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     34,552          35,738          36,438          37,246          37,502          37,656          37,460          37,692
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     35,106          36,408          37,154          38,134          38,368          38,942          38,186          38,532
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(e) 2000 operating profit includes a non-recurring charge of $9.0 million which consists of severance payments. 1999 operating profit includes a non-recurring charge of $3.0 million which consists of severance payments and supplemental pension obligations.
(f) Amounts adjusted for 2-for-1 stock split effective September 12, 2000.
(g) In 1998, the Company adopted Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." Prior years have been restated.
(h) In 1993, the Company adopted Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions;" No. 109, "Accounting for Income taxes;", and No. 112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits." Prior years have not been restated.
(i) Diluted cash earnings per share consists of net earnings adjusted for goodwill amortization related to business acquisitions.


Exhibit 13-i

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

DIVIDEND INFORMATION AND PRICE RANGE
PER COMMON SHARES

Following is a summary of dividends paid per common share, the range of market prices, and average price-earnings ratios with respect to common shares, during each quarter of 2000 and 1999. Quarterly common stock price and dividend data are restated for the 2-for-1 stick split effective September 12, 2000. The price-earnings ratios reflect average market prices relative to trailing four-quarter earnings before non-recurring charges.

                            COMMON STOCK PRICE        PRICE-
FISCAL           DIVIDEND   ------------------       EARNINGS
QUARTERS           PAID      HIGH         LOW         RATIO
-------------------------------------------------------------
2000:
  First            $.13     $26.00       $20.63       15.9
  Second            .13      23.88        18.07       13.4
  Third             .13      29.94        20.13       15.3
  Fourth            .13      32.99        23.00       15.1
1999:
  First            $.12     $31.88       $22.41       18.2
  Second            .12      32.13        25.82       18.7
  Third             .12      32.97        26.38       19.4
  Fourth            .12      29.25        21.88       17.3

MARKET MAKERS AND RESEARCH FIRMS

The following firms make a market (M) in Nordson Corporation stock and/or provide research data (R) on Nordson Corporation:

ABN AMRO, Inc.(R)

Credit Suisse First Boston Corp.(M)(R) Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc.(M)
McDonald Investments, Inc.(M)(R)
Robinson-Humphrey, LLC(M)(R)
Sherwood Securities Corp.(M)
Spear, Leeds & Kellogg(M)
Standard & Poors Corp.(R)
Value Line, Inc.(R)

STOCK LISTING INFORMATION

Nordson stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market under the symbol NDSN.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

National City Bank
Corporate Trust Operations
P.O. Box 92301
Cleveland, Ohio 44193-0900
(800)622-6757

ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING

Date:    March 8, 2001
Time:    5:30 p.m.
Place:   Spitzer Conference Center
         1005 North Abbe Road
         Elyria, Ohio

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PROGRAM

Nordson offers a Dividend Reinvestment Program that gives shareholders the opportunity to automatically reinvest dividends in the company's common stock. The program also allows cash contributions in increments of $10 up to $4,000 per quarter to purchase additional Nordson common shares. For details about this program, please contact National City Bank at the location listed above.

DIRECT DEPOSIT OF DIVIDENDS

Nordson also offers shareholders the option of electronically depositing quarterly dividends into a checking or savings account free of charge. For information about this service, please contact National City Bank.

NORDSON ON THE INTERNET

The Nordson Web site - www.nordson.com - offers up-to-date information about the company, including news, quarterly and annual financial results, stock quotes, and in-depth information on the company's products and systems. Each quarter, Nordson also broadcasts its traditional telephone conference calls via the Internet. In addition, visitors to the site can register to receive push e-mail alerts for online notification of the latest financial information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Copies of Nordson Corporation's Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (Form 10-K), quarterly reports and proxy statement are available without charge to shareholders. Send written requests to Barbara Price, Manager, Shareholder Relations, Nordson Corporation, 28601 Clemens Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145. Telephone: (440)414-5344; facsimile: (440)892-9507.


Exhibit 21

NORDSON CORPORATION
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

The following table sets forth the subsidiaries of the Registrant (each of which is included in the Registrant's consolidated financial statements), and the jurisdiction under the laws of which each subsidiary was organized.

Jurisdiction of
 Incorporation                                               Name
 -------------                                               ----
INTERNATIONAL:
-------------
Australia                                            Nordson Australia Pty. Limited
Austria                                              Nordson GmbH
Belgium                                              Nordson Benelux S.A./N.V.
Brazil                                               Nordson do Brasil Industria
                                                       E.Comercio Ltda.
Canada                                               Nordson Canada Limited
China                                                Nordson (China) Co. Ltd.
Colombia                                             Nordson Andina Limitada
Czech Republic                                       Nordson CS, spol.s.r.o.
Finland                                              Nordson Finland Oy
France                                               Nordson France S.A.
Germany                                              Nordson Deutschland GmbH (1)
Germany                                              Nordson Engineering GmbH
Hong Kong                                            Nordson Application Equipment, Inc.
India                                                Nordson India Private Limited
Italy                                                Nordson Italia SpA
Japan                                                Nordson K.K.
Japan                                                Nordson Asymtek K.K. (2)
Malaysia                                             Nordson (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Mexico                                               Nordson de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
The Netherlands                                      Nordson Benelux B.V.
The Netherlands                                      Nordson European Distribution B.V.
The Netherlands                                      Nordson B.V.
Norway                                               Nordson Norge A/S
Poland                                               Nordson Polska Sp.z.o.o.
Portugal                                             Nordson Portugal Equipamento
                                                       Industrial, Lda.
Russia                                               Nordson Deutschland GmbH -
                                                       Representative Office
Singapore                                            Nordson S.E. Asia (Pte.) Ltd.
South Korea                                          Nordson Sang San Ltd.
Spain                                                Nordson Iberica, S.A.
Sweden                                               Nordson AB
Sweden                                               Nordson Finishing AB (3)
Switzerland                                          Nordson (Schweiz) A.G. (4)
Taiwan                                               Nordson Pacific, Inc. -
                                                       Representative Office


INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS (cont.)

Jurisdiction of
 Incorporation                                               Name
 -------------                                               ----
Thailand                                             Nordson (Thailand) Limited
United Kingdom                                       Nordson (U.K.) Limited
United Kingdom                                       Spectral Technology Group Limited
United Kingdom                                       Nordson U.V. Limited. (5)
US Virgin Islands                                    Nordson FSC, Inc.
Venezuela                                            Nordson International de Venezuela, C.A.
Vietnam                                              Nordson Pacific, Inc. -
                                                       Representative Office

DOMESTIC
--------
Alabama                                              Nordson Corporation
California                                           Asymptotic Technologies, Inc. (6)
California                                           Slautterback Corporation
California                                           March Instruments, Inc.
Connecticut                                          Electrostatic Technology, Inc.
Delaware                                             Lambda Technologies, Inc. (7)
Florida                                              Advanced Plasma Systems, Inc.
Georgia                                              J and M Laboratories, Inc.
New Jersey                                           Horizon Lamps, Inc.
New Jersey                                           Veritec Technologies, Inc.
Ohio                                                 Nordson Pacific, Inc.
Ohio                                                 Nordson U.S. Trading Company
Ohio                                                 Nordson U.V. Inc.

( 1) Owned by Nordson Engineering GmbH and Nordson Corporation ( 2) Formerly known as Nordson Advanced Systems K.K. ( 3) Owned by Nordson AB
( 4) Owned by Nordson Benelux S.A./N.V. ( 5) Owned by Spectral Technology Group Limited. ( 6) Doing business as Asymtek
( 7) Acquired an equity interest in this Company by purchasing 307,692 shares of Series "D" Preferred Stock with an option to purchase an additional 153,846 shares. Lambda Technologies, Inc. is located in Raleigh, North Carolina


Exhibit 23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Nordson Corporation of our report dated December 6, 2000, included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Nordson Corporation for the year ended October 29, 2000.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Forms S-8) listed below and the related prospectuses of Nordson Corporation of our report dated December 6, 2000, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Nordson Corporation incorporated by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended October 29, 2000:

- Nordson Corporation 1982 Amended and Restated Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (now entitled 1988 Amended and Restated Stock Appreciation Rights Plan) (No. 2-66776)
- Nordson Employees' Savings Trust Plan (No. 33-18309)
- Nordson Corporation 1989 Stock Option Plan (No. 33-32201)
- Nordson Hourly-Rated Employees' Savings Trust Plan (No. 33-33481)
- Nordson Corporation 1993 Long-Term Performance Plan (No. 33-67780)
- Nordson Corporation - Slautterback Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (No. 33-73522)

                                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                                           ---------------------
                                                           Ernst & Young LLP


Cleveland, Ohio
January 23, 2001


Exhibit 99-a

For the purposes of complying with the amendments to the rules governing Form S-8 (effective July 13, 1990) under the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes as follows, which undertaking shall be incorporated by reference into Registrant's Registration Statements on Form S-8 Nos. 33-32201 (1989 Stock Option Plan); 2-82915 and 33-18279 (1982 Incentive Stock Option Plan); 33-20452 (1988 Employees Stock Purchase Plan); 33-20451 (1988 International Employees Stock Purchase Plan); 33-18309 (Employees Savings Trust Plan); and 33-33481 (Hourly-Rated Employees Savings Trust Plan):

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the _Act_) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


Exhibit 99-b

For the purpose of complying with the amendments to the rules governing Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes as follows, which undertaking shall be incorporated by reference into Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 2-66776 (1979 Stock Option Plan and 1982 Amended and Restated Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (now entitled 1988 Amended and Restated Stock Appreciation Rights Plan)):

(a) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 (the _Act_), each post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and that the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(b) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment of any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the _Act_) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceedings) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.