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): February 24, 2004



                                NATCO Group Inc.

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



        DELAWARE                      001-15603                   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 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)      Exhibits

         99.1     Press Release, dated February 24, 2004


ITEM 12.  DISCLOSURE OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

                  On February 24, 2004, NATCO Group Inc. issued a press release
         announcing its operating results for the fourth quarter of 2003. This
         press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form
         8-K, and its contents are incorporated by reference into this report.

                  In accordance with Regulation G, we have presented within this
         press release certain non-GAAP financial measures that are clearly
         identified and reconciled to the most directly comparable financial
         measure in tabular form, and have provided a statement from our
         management disclosing the purpose of using these non-GAAP financial
         measures.






                                    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: February 24, 2004
                                              NATCO Group Inc.



                                              By: /s/ Richard W. FitzGerald
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                    Richard W. FitzGerald
                                                    Senior Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.              Description
-----------              -----------

   99.1                  Press Release, dated February 24, 2004