EXHIBIT 5
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                       [LETTERHEAD OF PEPPER HAMILTON LLP]

April 19, 2001

Paragon Technologies, Inc.
600 Kuebler Road
Easton, PA  18040

    Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the
        Paragon Technologies, Inc.
        1997 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended and restated
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have  acted as counsel to Paragon  Technologies,  Inc.,  a  Pennsylvania
corporation  (the  "Company") in connection with the  Registration  Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"),  relating to an additional 300,000 shares of the Company's common stock,
par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"),  reserved for and issuable under
the Paragon  Technologies,  Inc. 1997 Equity  Compensation  Plan, as amended and
restated (the "Plan").

     In rendering this opinion, we have examined the Registration  Statement and
the exhibits  thereto,  including  the Plan,  certain  records of the  Company's
corporate  proceedings  as  reflected  in its  minute  books and such  statutes,
records and other documents as we have deemed relevant.  In our examination,  we
have assumed the  genuineness of documents  submitted to us as originals and the
conformity  with  the  originals  of all  documents  submitted  to us as  copies
thereof.

     Based on the  foregoing,  it is our opinion that the shares of Common Stock
issuable under the Plan will be, when issued and paid for in accordance with the
terms of the Plan, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

     The opinion set forth above is limited to the Business  Corporation  Law of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as amended.

     We  hereby  consent  to  the  use  of  this  opinion  as  Exhibit  5 to the
Registration  Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are acting  within the  category  of persons  whose  consent is  required  under
Section 7 of the Act and the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.

     The opinion  expressed  herein is solely for your benefit and may be relied
upon only by you.
                                               Sincerely,

                                               /s/ PEPPER HAMILTON LLP
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                                               PEPPER HAMILTON LLP