SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                -----------------


                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): November 4, 2002



                                NATCO Group Inc.

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



        DELAWARE                  ___________                22-2906892
(State of Incorporation)   (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
                                                         Identification No.)

    2950 North Loop West, 7th Floor
            Houston, Texas                                77092
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)


       Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (713) 683-9292

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

            On November 4, 2002, NATCO Group Inc. issued a press release
      announcing the Company's operating results for the third quarter of 2002.
      This press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form
      8-K, and the contents of such Exhibit are incorporated herein by
      reference.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)   Exhibits

      99.1  Press Release, dated November 4, 2002

                                    SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Dated:  November 5, 2002
                                               NATCO Group Inc.

                                           By: /s/ J. MICHAEL MAYER
                                               -------------------------
                                               J. Michael Mayer
                                               Senior Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



   Exhibit
   Number                         Description
   ------                         -----------
    99.1       --    Press Release, dated November 4, 2002