FORM 10-Q
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
             QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the quarterly period ended January 25, 1997

Commission file number: 0-3947


                                  Hach Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                              42-070442
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

                    5600 Lindbergh Drive, Loveland, CO 80537
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

                                 (970) 669-3050
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Registrant's telephone number including area code)

                                 Not applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Former name, former address, and former fiscal year,
                         if changed since last report)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No



At March 7,  1997 the  Registrant  had  11,375,597  shares of its common  stock
outstanding.

                                      -1-





Part I.  Financial Information

Item 1.  Financial Statements

         Summarized Financial Statements


The  accompanying  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet as of January 25, 1997,  and the
Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings for the quarters and the
nine months  ended  January  25, 1997 and January 27, 1996 and the  Consolidated
Statements  of Cash Flows for the nine months ended January 25, 1997 and January
27, 1996 are unaudited;  however,  in the opinion of management all  adjustments
(consisting only of normal  recurring  adjustments)  considered  necessary for a
fair  presentation of the results of such periods have been made. The results of
operations  for the quarters and nine months ended  January 25, 1997 and January
27,  1996 are not  necessarily  indicative  of the results of  operations  to be
expected for the full year.

The financial data included  herein pursuant to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X has
been  subjected  to a review  by  Coopers  & Lybrand  L.L.P.,  the  Registrant's
independent accountants.












                                      -2-







                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
                    (Thousands of Dollars Except Share Data)
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                       QUARTER ENDED                      NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                       -------------                      -----------------
                                                   1/25/97           1/27/96           1/25/97           1/27/96
                                                ----------        ----------        ----------        ----------

                                                                                            
Net sales                                     $     29,481      $     27,999      $     88,675      $     83,904
Cost of sales                                       15,324            14,262            45,395            42,047
                                              ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Gross profit                                        14,157            13,737            43,280            41,857
Selling, general & administrative expense            8,015             8,087            24,268            24,606
Research and development expense                     1,986             1,832             6,230             5,492
                                              ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Income from operations                               4,156             3,818            12,782            11,759
Interest income                                        460               383             1,261               994
                                              ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Income before income taxes                           4,616             4,201            14,043            12,753
Income tax expense                                   1,591             1,451             4,843             4,453
                                              ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------

Net income                                           3,025             2,750             9,200             8,300

Retained earnings, beginning of period              71,988            62,838            67,177            58,425
Cash dividends                                        (682)             (683)           (2,046)           (1,820)
                                              ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Retained earnings, end of period              $     74,331      $     64,905      $     74,331      $     64,905
                                              ============      ============      ============      ============

Net income per common share                   $       0.27      $       0.24      $       0.81      $       0.73
                                              ============      ============      ============      ============

Dividends per common share                    $       0.06      $       0.06      $       0.18      $       0.16
                                              ============      ============      ============      ============

Weighted avgerage shares outstanding            11,367,881        11,372,396        11,362,429        11,369,527
                                              ============      ============      ============      ============




The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial
statements.


                                      -3-





                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Thousands of Dollars)
                                   (Unaudited)




                                           January 25, 1997      April 30, 1996


ASSETS

  Current assets:
                                                                     
    Cash and cash equivalents                    $ 11,986              $  8,487
    Marketable securities, held-to-maturity .      16,149                12,804
    Accounts receivable, less reserves
      of $248 and $215, respectively               17,715                15,846
    Inventories                                    12,849                12,769
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets       4,882                 3,277
                                                 --------              --------

      Total current assets                         63,581                53,183

  Property, plant and equipment at cost:
    Buildings and improvements                     23,483                23,557
    Machinery and equipment                        46,637                43,129
                                                 --------              --------
                                                   70,120                66,686
    Less allowance for depreciation
      and amortization                             41,751                38,571
                                                 --------              --------
                                                   28,369                28,115
    Land                                              992                   997
                                                 --------              --------
      Net property, plant and equipment            29,361                29,112

    Marketable securities, held-to-maturity .       7,165                 9,316
    Other assets                                    2,050                 1,684
                                                 --------              --------

Total assets                                     $102,157              $ 93,295
                                                 ========              ========


The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial
statements.

                                    Continued

                                      -4-




                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Thousands of Dollars)
                                   (Unaudited)




                                           January 25, 1997      April 30, 1996


LIABILITIES

  Current liabilities:
                                                                      
      Accounts payable                           $   3,439            $   2,826
      Accrued liabilities:
        Compensation                                 1,205                  731
        Compensated absences                         3,490                3,500
        Profit sharing                               2,618                3,069
        Other                                        1,875                1,188
                                                 ---------            ---------
          Total current liabilities                 12,627               11,314

  Deferred income taxes                              2,240                1,814
  Long term liabilities                              1,765                1,347
                                                 ---------            ---------
        Total liabilities                           16,632               14,475

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Common stock, $1 par value; authorized
    25,000,000 shares in 1997 and
    40,000,000 shares in 1996;
    issued 11,622,953 shares                        11,623               11,623
  Capital contributed in excess of par value           453                  316
  Retained earnings                                 74,331               67,177
  Cumulative currency translation adjustment         1,067                1,636
                                                 ---------            ---------
                                                    87,474               80,752
  Less: Shares held in treasury at cost:
           (247,354 at January 25, 1997 and
           258,881 at April 30, 1996)               (1,949)              (1,932)
                                                 ---------            ---------

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity       $ 102,157            $  93,295
                                                 =========            =========



The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial
statements.

                                      -5-



                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                             (Thousands of Dollars)
                                   (Unaudited)




                                                                   NINE MONTHS ENDED       NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                    JANUARY 25, 1997        JANUARY 27, 1996
                                                                   -----------------       -----------------
                                                                                         
Cash Flows from operating activities:
Net income                                                              $  9,200                $  8,300
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
  net cash provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation & amortization                                           4,567                   4,487
     Provision for deferred income taxes                                     426                      61
     Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment                          33                     122
     (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable                           (1,869)                    371
     (Increase) in inventories                                               (80)                 (1,521)
     (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses &
       other current assets                                               (1,605)                  1,135
     Increase in accounts payable                                            613                     680
     Increase in other liabilities                                         1,118                   1,665
                                                                        --------                --------

Net cash provided by operating activities                                 12,403                  15,300

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Proceeds from sale of property, plant & equipment                         6                     255
     Capital expenditures                                                 (4,956)                 (4,887)
     Purchases of investments held-to-maturity                           (12,929)                (18,949)
     Proceeds from the maturity of short-term investments                 11,736                   5,670
     (Increase) in long-term assets                                         (366)                   (368)
                                                                        --------                --------

Net cash used by investing activities                                     (6,509)                (18,279)

Cash flows from financing activities:
     Dividends paid                                                       (2,046)                 (1,820)
     Exercise of stock options                                               327                     245
     Purchases of treasury stock                                            (206)                   (599)
                                                                        --------                --------

Net cash used by financing activities                                     (1,925)                 (2,174)

Effects of exchange rate changes                                            (470)                   (363)
                                                                        --------                --------

Net increase (decrease) in cash & cash equivalents                         3,499                  (5,516)

Cash & cash equivalents at the beginning of the period                     8,487                  13,050
                                                                        --------                --------

Cash & cash equivalents at the end of the period                        $ 11,986                $  7,534
                                                                        ========                ========


The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial
statements.

                                      -6-


                                      




Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (Unaudited)


1.       Financial Statements

     The consolidated balance sheet as of January 25, 1997, and the consolidated
statements of income and retained earnings for the quarters and the nine months,
ended January 25, 1997 and January 27, 1996 and the  consolidated  statements of
cash flows for the nine months ended  January 25, 1997 and January 27, 1996 have
been prepared by the Company,  without  audit.  The April 30, 1996 balance sheet
was derived from audited financial  statements and as presented does not include
all the disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. In the
opinion of management,  all  adjustments,  consisting  only of normal  recurring
adjustments,  necessary to present fairly the consolidated  financial  position,
results of operations and cash flows have been made. These financial  statements
include  forward  looking  information  as  defined  by the  Private  Securities
Litigation  Reform  Act of 1995 and  therefore  results  of  operations  for the
interim  periods are not necessarily  indicative of the operating  results for a
full year or of future operations.

     Certain  amounts in the financial  statements  for April 30, 1996 have been
reclassified to conform with the current periods presentation.

2.       Inventories

         The components of inventories are:            
                                                 (Thousands of Dollars)
                                         January 25, 1997       April 30, 1996
                                         ----------------       --------------

Raw materials and purchased parts              $3,083               $2,977
Work-in-process                                 1,935                2,030
Finished goods                                  7,831                7,762
                                              -------              -------
                                              $12,849              $12,769
                                              =======              =======
3.       Income Taxes

     For both periods presented, the provision for income taxes is based upon an
expected  annual  effective  income tax rate. The rates utilized for the quarter
ended  January  25, 1997 and January 27, 1996 were 34.5% and for the nine months
ended January 25, 1997 and January 27, 1996 were 34.5% and 34.9% respectively.

4.       Net Income Per Common Share

     Net income  per common  share is based on the  weighted  average  number of
common shares  outstanding  during the period.  Common stock  equivalents do not
have a materially dilutive effect on net income per common share.

5.       Capital Stock

     At the annual  stockholders  meeting on August 27, 1996,  the  stockholders
approved a  reduction  in the number of  authorized  shares form  40,000,000  to
25,000,000.

6.       Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

     The  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based  Compensation," FAS No.
123 in October  of 1995.  This  statement,  which is  required  to be adopted in
fiscal  year 1997,  introduces  a  fair-value  based  method of  accounting  for
stock-based compensation. The Company has decided to adopt the disclosure method
for FAS No. 123.

7.       Subsequent Event

     On  March 3,  1997,  the  Company's  Board of  Directors  announced  it had
approved an  amendment  to its  Certificate  of  Incorporation  creating two new
classes of stock that would replace its existing  common stock.  The new Class B
Common Stock would be similar to the  existing  common stock and would carry the
right to vote on all  matters.  The new Class A Common  Stock would be nonvoting
except under certain limited circumstances related to legal requirements.

     The proposed  amendment is subject to approval by the holders of a majority
of the  outstanding  shares of existing common stock.  Upon such approval,  each
share of  existing  common  stock would be  converted  to one-half of a share of
Class A Common Stock and one-half of a share of Class B Common Stock.



                                      -7-






Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operation

Analysis of Financial Condition:

There was no material  change in the liquidity of the Company during the quarter
ended January 25, 1997.  Cash and short-term  investments  increased  $3,378,000
during the  quarter and  increased  $6,844,000  during the nine month  period to
$28,135,000.

The Company monitors cash flow and capital  expenditures in great detail as part
of its total  budgeting  process.  Capital  needs in the near future will be for
production equipment;  computer systems and equipment;  and peripheral equipment
to support production, research and development and administration.

The  Company's  Board of Directors  authorized  the Company to  repurchase up to
$2,000,000 in value of the Company's common stock.

The Company's Board of Directors  authorized the construction of a 66,350 square
foot  facility to be added to the  existing  Loveland,  Colorado  facility.  The
addition will provide more  manufacturing,  research and  development and office
space.  Construction  is tentatively  scheduled to begin in late summer or early
fall of 1997.

The Company intends to finance its capital projects, dividend payments and stock
buy back through existing cash and cash equivalents,  short-term investments and
projected cash flow from operations.

Results of Operations:  Quarter ended January 25, 1997 compared to quarter ended
January 27, 1996.

Net sales increased 5.3% to $29,481,000 from $27,999,000. The Company's domestic
net sales increased 7.0% while its  international net sales increased 2.6%. Both
the domestic and  international  net sales  increases were due primarily to unit
volume increases in most of the Company's major product lines.

Cost of  sales  increased  7.4% to  $15,324,000  from  $14,262,000.  This  item,
composed of material, labor and product overhead, increased primarily because of
unit volume  increases.  The gross profit percent  decreased to 48.0% from 49.0%
due to the mix of products sold.

Selling,  general and  administrative  expense  decreased .1% to $8,015,000 from
$8,087,000. The decrease was primarily due to lower payroll and related expenses
due to a reduction in the number of employees.

Research and development  expense  increased 8.4% to $1,986,000 from $1,832,000.
The  increase  was due to an  increased  emphasis  on research  and  development
efforts. The increased research and development spending will result in a number
of new products being introduced during the next six months.

Interest  income  increased to $460,000 from  $383,000.  The increase was due to
higher average investment balances and higher interest rates in the quarter.


                                      -8-




Results of  Operations:  Nine months  ended  January  25, 1997  compared to nine
months ended January 27, 1996.

Net sales increased 5.7% to $88,675,000 from $83,904,000. The Company's domestic
net sales increased 4.5% while its  international net sales increased 7.9%. Both
the domestic and  international  net sales  increases were primarily due to unit
volume increases in most of the Company's major product lines.

Cost of  sales  increased  8.0% to  $45,395,000  from  $42,047,000.  This  item,
composed of material, labor and product overhead, increased primarily because of
unit volume  increases.  The gross profit percent  decreased to 48.8% from 49.9%
due to the mix of products sold.

Selling,  general and administrative  expense decreased 1.4% to $24,268,000 from
$24,606,000.  The  decrease  was  primarily  due to lower  payroll  and  related
expenses due to a reduction in the number of employees.

Research and development  expense increased 13.4% to $6,230,000 from $5,492,000.
The  increase  was due to an  increased  emphasis  on research  and  development
efforts.  This  increased  research and  development  spending  will result in a
number of new products being introduced during the next six months.

Interest income  increased to $1,261,000 from $994,000.  The increase was due to
higher  average  investment  balances and higher  interest  rates in the current
period.



                                      -9-




Part II.  Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         N/A

Item 2.  Changes in Securities

         A  certificate  of  Amendment  was filed on  September  12, 1996 in the
Office of the  Secretary  of State of  Delaware,  setting out the  amendment  to
Article Four of the Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  which reduced the
number of shares of capital  stock ($1.00 par value) which the company may issue
to 25,000,000  shares.  Prior to the  amendment,  the Company was  authorized to
issue a maximum of  40,000,000  share of its $1.00 par value common  stock.  See
Item 4, Part II of the 10-Q report for the quarter ended July 27, 1996.

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

1.  Report of Independent Accountants.

2.  Awareness Letter of Independent Accountants.

3.  Financial Data Schedule.


During the quarter ended  January 25, 1997,  the  Registrant  filed no report on
Form 8-K.




                                      -10-





                                   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.

Hach Company

March 11, 1997     By:  /s/ Bruce J. Hach
                   -----------------------------------------
Date               Bruce J. Hach, President and Chief Operating Officer



March 11, 1997     By: /s/ Gary R. Dreher
                   -----------------------------------------
Date               Gary R. Dreher, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



                                      -11-