8-K

                      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): June 16, 1999


                               Commission file number:
                                     000-15760



                                   Hardinge Inc.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)




New York                                                    16-0470200
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)


                       One Hardinge Drive Elmira, NY 14902
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


                                  (607) 734-2281
               (Registrant's telephone number including area code)







ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS


          On June 16, 1999,  Hardinge  Inc.  issued a press  release  announcing
preliminary  results for the second quarter of 1999. A copy of the press release
is included as Exhibit 99 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated
herein by reference.




ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS


         (a)   Not applicable
         (b)   Not applicable
         (c)   Exhibits

               99    Press Release issued by registrant on June 16, 1999.












                                   SIGNATURES

         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, thereunto duly authorized.


                                  Hardinge Inc.





June 21, 1999                              By:_/s/ Richard L. Simons___________
Date                                       Richard L. Simons
                                           Senior Vice President and Chief
                                           Financial Officer
                                           (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-99

                                   EXHIBIT 99


                                                     HARDINGE INC.
                                                     One Hardinge Drive
                                                     Elmira, NY 14902
                                                     (Nasdaq: HDNG)



AT THE COMPANY:                             AT THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
Richard L Simons                            For General Info: Karen Griffiths
Senior VP & CFO                             For Analyst Info: John McNamara
(607) 734-2281                              For Media Info: Claudine Cornelis
                                            (212) 661-8030


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


                       HARDINGE COMMENTS ON SECOND QUARTER


ELMIRA, N.Y., JUNE 16, 1999 -- Hardinge Inc. (Nasdaq:  HDNG), a leading producer
of machine  tools,  today  announced  that it expects  net profit for the second
quarter  ending June 30, 1999 to be between $1.3 million and $1.6 million ($0.14
to $0.17 per diluted share). The company indicated that shipments in this year's
second  quarter  are  currently  running at levels  similar to that  experienced
during the first quarter and competition is very intense.  Hardinge is scheduled
to formally  release final results for the second  quarter on July 29, 1999, and
will hold a conference call at that time.

         Robert  E.  Agan,  Chairman,  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer
commented,  "The  encouraging  signs that we saw at the end of the first quarter
did not prevail and the industry is again operating at a depressed  level. It is
becoming  increasingly  difficult  to predict  with any  certainty  the level of
future sales and profit."

         Mr. Agan noted that many manufacturing companies,  large and small, are
continuing to hold back on purchases due to unease about the current economy. He
also noted that  industry-wide  domestic  orders for metal cutting  machines are
down by 50% from a year ago.  "This is  resulting  in  special  discounting  and
promotional  programs as other machine tool manufacturers and distributors fight
for cash flow," he said.

                                   --MORE--




         "Because   of  our  diverse   product   mix,   extensive   geographical
distribution,  and aggressive cost management tactics we are comfortable that we
can  continue  to  maintain  profitability.  However,  we  would  have  to see a
sustained  improvement  in order and  shipment  levels to  achieve  the level of
profitability  that we expected at the beginning of the year.  Currently,  there
are no signs of such an improvement."

         "We will continue to look at our  organization  and expense levels with
the goal of balancing  long-term  strategic  programs with the absolute need for
short-term  profitability.  We  believe  we  will  be in the  position  to  take
advantage  of any  opportunities  that may arise in the  future  because  of our
strong balance sheet,  extensive  product range,  superior product  reliability,
cutting-edge technology, and excellent customer service," Mr. Agan concluded.

         Hardinge,  Inc.  founded  more than 100 years ago, is an  international
leader in the  machine  tool  industry.  The company  designs  and  manufactures
computer-numerically   controlled   metal-cutting  lathes,   machining  centers,
grinding machines,  electrical discharge machines and other industrial products.
The company's common stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol "HDNG".




This news release contains  statements of a  forward-looking  nature relating to
the  financial  performance  of Hardinge,  Inc. Such  statements  are based upon
information  known to  management at this time.  The company  cautions that such
statements  necessarily  involve  uncertainties  and risk, and deal with matters
beyond the  company's  ability to control and in many cases the  company  cannot
predict what factors would cause actual results to differ  materially from those
indicated. Among the many factors that could cause actual results to differ from
those  set  forth in the  forward-looking  statements  are  fluctuations  in the
machine tool business cycle,  changes in general economic conditions in the U.S.
or internationally, the mix of products sold and the profit margins thereon, the
relative success of the company's entry into new product and geographic markets,
the company's ability to manage its operating costs,  actions taken by customers
such as order  cancellations  or reduced  bookings by customers or distributors,
competitors'  actions such as price  discounting  or new product  introductions,
governmental  regulations and environmental matters, changes in the availability
and cost of materials and supplies,  the  implementation of new technologies and
currency  fluctuations.  Any  forward-looking  statement should be considered in
light of these  factors.  The company  undertakes  no  obligation  to revise its
forward-looking statements if unanticipated events alter their accuracy.