EXHIBIT 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

2950 North Loop West, Suite 700
Houston, TX  77092
PHONE: (713) 685-8062   FAX: (713) 683-7841

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NATCO Group Names New CEO                              Houston,December 8, 2004
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The Board of Directors of NATCO Group Inc. (NYSE: NTG) today announced the
election of John U. Clarke as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on
December 7, 2004. He will remain as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Mr. Clarke said, "I am excited about the prospect of leading NATCO. Over the
past several months I have had the opportunity to work with the Board and key
members of NATCO's management team to fashion strategies and a business model
to increase the Company's profitability and to earn improved returns for our
shareholders. These plans are near completion and will be finalized in the
weeks ahead."

Mr. Clarke, 52, has served on the NATCO board of directors since February 2000
and has been Interim Chief Executive Officer since early September 2004. Since
May 2001, Mr. Clarke has been president of Concept Capital Group, Inc., a
financial and strategic advisory firm. Prior to such time, he served in various
executive management positions with three significant energy companies,
including Dynegy, Cabot Oil and Gas and Transco Energy Company. Mr. Clarke is
also a director of The Houston Exploration Company and Harvest Natural
Resources.

NATCO Group Inc. is a leading provider of wellhead process equipment, systems
and services used in the production of oil and gas. NATCO has designed,
manufactured and marketed production equipment and services for more than 75
years. NATCO production equipment is used onshore and offshore in most major
oil and gas producing regions of the world.

Statements made in this press release that are forward-looking in nature are
intended to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and may involve risks and uncertainties.
These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results.
Readers are referred to documents filed by NATCO Group Inc. with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, which
identifies significant risk factors which could cause actual results to differ
from those contained in the forward-looking statements.


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