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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WNUocxpu7jH1xd+uGb8cmrqNrU2PnF35SY/lSfRhjeUn3lDMEQ/MNgZd4Zrhx6IZ
 g1++RhuVHT4L9kRCtH2gcw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001015041-03-000033.txt : 20031223
<SEC-HEADER>0001015041-03-000033.hdr.sgml : 20031223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031223091200
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001015041-03-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031223

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORDSON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000072331
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT, NEC [3569]
		IRS NUMBER:				340590250
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28601 CLEMENS RD
		CITY:			WESTLAKE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44145
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2168921580

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28601 CLEMENS ROAD
		CITY:			WESTLAKE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44145

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MADAR WILLIAM P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015041
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07977
		FILM NUMBER:		031069463

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORDSON CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		28601 CLEMENS ROAD
		CITY:			WESTLAKE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44145
		BUSINESS PHONE:		440/892-1580

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29400 LAKELAND BLVD
		CITY:			WICKLIFFE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44092
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-04</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072331</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORDSON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NDSN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001015041</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MADAR WILLIAM P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>28601 CLEMENS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTLAKE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44145</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>COMMON SHARES</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10730</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>247045</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwners
hip></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>COMMON SHARES</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16983</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 3,059 shares owned thru Co. 401(k) Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Security converts into common stock on one-for-one b
asis.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Stock units accrued through Nordson's Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.  Receipt of stock is not permissible until participant ceases to be a Director or reaches age 70, whichever occurs first.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert E. Veillette, Attorney-In-FAct</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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