-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GMDU0OaSc5owfaXSzJQaEkOuEJu8ErfT0JAQfeaOnl8w7o4sq+M/okfzIRvyXclD
 A07yZ+nMQQdjMYgkiYQ7Vw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001068800-06-000156.txt : 20060224
<SEC-HEADER>0001068800-06-000156.hdr.sgml : 20060224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060224113852
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001068800-06-000156
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060224
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEALKE LINN H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200274

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20600
		FILM NUMBER:		06641586

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		305 CARYLE LAKE DR
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63141

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZOLTEK COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000890923
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL APPARATUS [3620]
		IRS NUMBER:				431311101
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3101 MCKELVEY RD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63044
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3142915110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3101 MCKELVEY ROAD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63044
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bealke_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000890923</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZOLTEK COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZOLT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200274</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEALKE LINN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3101 MCKELVEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63044</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.99</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jill A. Schmidt, Attorney-in-Fact for Linn H. Bealke</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----