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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OfXe1/29ZJqpfF/Em/9oWSqpbc0wLLk1wn79xkocea2IrSv7n3AUItKhfx44AYyk
 r851IyPOfBogTCLdvWybEA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001018624-03-000019.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0001018624-03-000019.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031103133517
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001018624-03-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031031
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARDIS STEPHEN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018624
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07977
		FILM NUMBER:		03972385

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O APOGENT TECHNOLOGIES
		STREET 2:		30 PENHALLOW STREET
		CITY:			PORTSMOUTH
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03801-3816
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6034336131

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
</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>2003-10-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072331</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORDSON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NDSN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001018624</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARDIS STEPHEN R</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>2003-11-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></
nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON SHARES</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BY SPOUSE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON SHARES</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>200</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BY CHILDREN</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercise
Price><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>271</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>COMMON SHARES</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>271</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37407</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><
/directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.71</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>COMMON SHARES</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value><
/underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Security converts into common stock on one-for-one basis.</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><footnote id="F4">Grant to reporting person of option to purchase 2,500 common shares under Nordson's Long-Term Performance Plan, exercisable at 100% beginning 5/3/04.</footnote><footnote id="F5">The exercise price of the deriva
tive security has been reported in column 2.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert E. Veillette, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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