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                       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): JULY 2, 1996

                               TYLAN GENERAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

      0-25376                                          04-2659273
(Commission File No.)                        (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                             15330 AVENUE OF SCIENCE
                           SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92128
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (619) 618-1990

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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         On July 2, 1996, the Board of Directors of Tylan General, Inc. (the
"CORPORATION") declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase
right (a "RIGHT") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $0.001
per share (the "COMMON SHARES"), of the Corporation. The dividend is payable to
the stockholders of record on July 15, 1996 (the "RECORD DATE"), and with
respect to Common Shares issued thereafter until the Distribution Date (as
defined below) and, in certain circumstances, with respect to Common Shares
issued after the Distribution Date. Except as set forth below, each Right, when
it becomes exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Corporation one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, without par value (the "PREFERRED SHARES"), of the Corporation
at a price of $70.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "PURCHASE
PRICE"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in a Rights Agreement (the "RIGHTS AGREEMENT") between the Corporation and
The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent (the "RIGHTS AGENT"), dated
as of July 2, 1996.

         Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing
Common Shares then outstanding, and no separate Right Certificates will be
distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares upon the earliest
to occur of (i) a person or group of affiliated or associated persons having
acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(except pursuant to a Permitted Offer, as hereinafter defined); or (ii) 10 days
(or such later date as the Board may determine) following the commencement of,
or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring
Person (as hereinafter defined) (the earliest of such dates being called the
"DISTRIBUTION DATE"). A person or group whose acquisition of Common Shares
causes a Distribution Date pursuant to clause (i) above is an "ACQUIRING
PERSON." The date that a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person is the
"SHARES ACQUISITION DATE."

         The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights) new Common
Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of
Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of
the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this
Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("RIGHT CERTIFICATES") will be mailed to holders of record
of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date (and
to each initial 

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record holder of certain Common Shares issued after the Distribution Date), and
such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

         THE RIGHTS ARE NOT EXERCISABLE UNTIL THE DISTRIBUTION DATE and will
expire at the close of business on July 2, 2006, unless earlier redeemed by the
Corporation as described below.

         In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person (except
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer which is for all outstanding Common
Shares at a price and on terms which a majority of certain members of the Board
of Directors determines to be adequate and in the best interests of the
Corporation, its stockholders and other relevant constituencies, other than such
Acquiring Person, its affiliates and associates (a "PERMITTED OFFER")), each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right (the "FLIP-IN RIGHT") to
receive upon exercise the number of Common Shares or of one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Shares (or, in certain circumstances, other securities of the
Corporation) having a value (immediately prior to such triggering event) equal
to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
following the occurrence of the event described above, all Rights that are, or
(under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate thereof
will be null and void.

         In the event that, at any time following the Shares Acquisition Date,
(i) the Corporation is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares
immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction are not the holders of
all of the surviving corporation's voting power, or (ii) more than 50% of the
Corporation's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, in either case
with or to an Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate or any other person
in which such Acquiring Person, affiliate or associate has an interest or any
person acting on behalf of or in concert with such Acquiring Person, affiliate
or associate, or, if in such transaction all holders of Common Shares are not
treated alike, any other person, then each holder of a Right (except Rights
which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the
right (the "FLIP-OVER RIGHT") to receive, upon exercise, common shares of the
acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the
Right. The holder of a Right will continue to have the Flip-Over Right whether
or not such holder exercises or surrenders the Flip-In Right.

         The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares, Common
Shares or other securities issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, 

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less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights
or warrants (other than those referred to above).

         The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.

         Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but, if greater, will be entitled
to an aggregate dividend per share of 100 times the dividend declared per Common
Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be
entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share;
thereafter, and after the holders of the Common Shares receive a liquidation
payment of $1.00 per share, the holders of the Preferred Shares and the holders
of the Common Shares will share the remaining assets in the ratio of 100 to 1
(as adjusted) for each Preferred Share and Capital Share so held, respectively.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive
100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary antidilution provisions. In the event that the amount of accrued and
unpaid dividends on the Preferred Shares is equivalent to six full quarterly
dividends or more, the holders of the Preferred Shares shall have the right,
voting as a class, to elect two directors in addition to the directors elected
by the holders of the Common Shares until all cumulative dividends on the
Preferred Shares have been paid through the last quarterly dividend payment date
or until non-cumulative dividends have been paid regularly for at least one
year.

         With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are one one-hundredth or integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Corporation, be
evidenced by depositary receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash
will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last
trading day prior to the date of exercise.

         At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the
acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the Common Shares, the
Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than the Rights
owned by the 

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Acquiring Person or its Associates and Affiliates, which shall have become void)
at an exchange ratio of one Common Shares per Right (subject to Adjustment).

         At any time prior to the earlier to occur of (i) a person becoming an
Acquiring Person or (ii) the expiration of the Rights, and under certain other
circumstances, the Corporation may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $.01 per Right (the "REDEMPTION PRICE") which redemption shall be
effective upon the action of the Board of Directors. Additionally, following the
Shares Acquisition Date, the Corporation may redeem the then outstanding Rights
in whole, but not in part, at the Redemption Price, provided that such
redemption is in connection with a merger or other business combination
transaction or series of transactions involving the Corporation in which all
holders of Common Shares are treated alike but not involving an Acquiring Person
or its affiliates or associates and provided, further that this redemption right
shall not exist for 365 days following the Shares Acquisition Date under certain
circumstances.

         All of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes
which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of any Acquiring Person), or, subject to certain limitations, to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement.

         Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will
not be taxable to stockholders of the Corporation, stockholders may, depending
upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income should the Rights become
exercisable or upon the occurrence of certain events thereafter.

         A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Corporation. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement.

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ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         (c)      EXHIBITS.

                  99.1     Specimen Right Certificate.

                  99.2     Rights Agreement, dated as of July 2, 1996, between 
                           Tylan General, Inc. and The First National Bank of 
                           Boston, as Rights Agent.

                  99.3     Press release, dated July 3, 1996.

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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.

                                     TYLAN GENERAL, INC.

Dated:  July 2, 1996                 By:      DAVID J. FERRAN
                                        ---------------------
                                         David J. Ferran
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer

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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

                                                                        PAGE NO.

         99.1     Specimen Right Certificate.

         99.2     Rights Agreement, dated as of July 2, 1996, between Tylan 
                  General, Inc. and The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights
                  Agent.

         99.3     Press release, dated July 3, 1996.

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