SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K


                 Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 17, 1997



                            Zomax Optical Media, Inc.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                                    Minnesota
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


        0-28426                                           41-1833089
(Commission File Number)                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)


                                5353 Nathan Lane
                            Plymouth, Minnesota 55442
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


                                  612-553-9300
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





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Item 5.  Other Events.

         On March 17, 1997, Zomax Optical Media,  Inc. (the "Company") agreed in
principle to acquire all of the  outstanding  stock of Benchmark Media Services,
Inc.  ("Benchmark").  Although  consummation  of the  transaction  is subject to
completion  of a  definitive  agreement,  the  tentative  terms  provide for the
payment of nominal  consideration at closing and an earn-out based on 1997 sales
to Benchmark customers,  due in 1998. In addition, under the proposed terms, the
Company will be obligated to cause the  repayment of certain debt of  Benchmark.
The transaction is expected to close within the next 60 days, however, there can
be no assurance  that the Company and  Benchmark  will be able to agree to final
terms.  The Company  intends to finance this proposed  acquisition  with working
capital.

         Benchmark is a software replicator located in Plymouth,  Minnesota with
satellite  offices in  Indianapolis,  Indiana and the Orlando,  Florida area. In
calendar 1996, it had revenues of approximately $10 million.

         The Company believes that this proposed acquisition is in line with its
strategy of expanding operations through acquisitions and broadening its base of
customers  and  facilities.   The  success  of  this  strategy  will  depend  on
management's   ability  to  integrate   Benchmark's   products   and   services,
manufacturing  operations  and personnel into the Company's  current  operation.
These two companies have been operating as separate  independent  entities,  and
there can be no assurance that management will be able to effectively  integrate
and manage the combined  entity and implement the Company's  operating or growth
strategies.  Further, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
retain the personnel currently employed by each entity following the acquisition
or that  current  sales  personnel  will be able to  effectively  sell the other
firm's  products.  Failure to properly  integrate  these  businesses on a timely
basis or to implement the Company's  operating and growth  strategy could have a
material  adverse  impact on the Company's  profitability  and future  operating
results.

         Certain of the statements  contained herein are forward looking,  based
on current  expectations and are made pursuant to the safe harbor  provisions of
the Private  Securities Reform Act of 1995. As stated herein,  there are certain
important  factors  that could  cause  results to differ  materially  from those
anticipated   by   those   statements.   Investors   are   cautioned   that  all
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (a)      Financial statements:  None.

         (b)      Pro forma financial information:  None.

         (c)      Exhibits:  None.




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                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  March 24, 1997
                                      ZOMAX OPTICAL MEDIA, INC.


                                      By  /s/ James E. Flaherty
                                      James E. Flaherty, Chief Financial Officer
                                              and Secretary


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