<PAGE>   1
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 2, 1996

                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------
                            VERSA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

           DELAWARE                                         39-1143618
  (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
  INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                            IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                             9301 WASHINGTON AVENUE
                          STURTEVANT, WISCONSIN 53177
          (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES, INCLUDING ZIP CODE)

                     VERSA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1992 EMPLOYEE
                          INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (FULL TITLE OF PLAN)

                               ROBERT M. SUKALICH
                            VERSA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                             9301 WASHINGTON AVENUE
                          STURTEVANT, WISCONSIN  53177
                    (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                 (414) 886-1174
         (TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                WITH A COPY TO:

                              LINDA JEFFRIES WIGHT
                             SCHIFF HARDIN & WAITE
                                7200 SEARS TOWER
                            CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606
                                 (312) 258-5619
                            -----------------------


                       CALCULATION  OF  REGISTRATION  FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=================================================================================================================================
                                                                        Proposed         Proposed
                                                           Amount       maximum           maximum
                                                            to be      offering price    aggregate              Amount of
Title of securities to be registered                       registered  per share (1)     offering price (1)   registration fee (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                        <C>         <C>             <C>                     <C>
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 
(including Preferred Stock Purchase Rights)               200,000      $13.50          $2,700,000                  $819

=================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated on the basis of $13.50 per share, the average of the high and low
    sales prices as quoted on NASDAQ - NMS on November 25, 1996, pursuant 
    to Rules 457(h) and 457(c).


<PAGE>   2

                                    PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed by Versa Technologies, Inc. (the
"Registrant")  are hereby incorporated by reference:

      (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form
           10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996;

      (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form
           10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 1996 and
           September 30, 1996;

      (c)  The description of the Registrant's
           Preferred Stock Purchase Rights contained in the
           Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
           dated December 16, 1988, including any amendment
           or report filed for the purpose of updating such
           description;

      (d)  The description of the Registrant's Common
           Stock, par value $0.01 per share, contained in
           the Registrant's Registration Statement under the
           Exchange Act dated November 17, 1970, including
           any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
           updating such description; and

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereto from the
date of filing of such documents.


ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.


          The legality of the Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Versa 
Technologies, Inc. 1992 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan has been passed
upon for the Registrant by Schiff Hardin & Waite, 7200 Sears Tower, Chicago,    
Illinois 60606.  A member of the firm participating in the representation of
the Registrant is an officer of the Registrant, owns 6,000 shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock and holds options to purchase an additional 5,000
shares of the Registrant's Common Stock.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

          The Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Registrant provide for indemnification by the Registrant of each of its
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law or liability
(including liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act")) of
such director or officer arising 

                                     -1-
<PAGE>   3


by reason of his or her status as a director or officer of the Registrant,
provided that he or she met the standards established in the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, which include requirements that he or she acted
in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the
Registrant's best interest.  The Registrant will also advance expenses prior to
final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by the director or officer to repay such amount if the director or
officer is not entitled to indemnification.  All rights to indemnification and
advancement of expenses are deemed to be a contract between the Registrant and
its directors and officers.  The determination that a director or officer has
met the standards established in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws may be made by majority vote or a quorum consisting of disinterested
directors, an opinion of counsel (if no such quorum is available), a majority
vote of stockholders, or a court (which may also overturn any of the preceding
determinations).  The Registrant has purchased insurance against liabilities of
directors or officers, as permitted by the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws.


ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

          The Exhibits filed herewith are set forth on the Index to Exhibits 
filed as part of this Registration Statement on page 6 hereof.

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

          The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:


          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                     (i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                     (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events 
         arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or 
         the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
         individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
         information set forth in the registration statement; and

                     (iii) To include any material information with respect 
         to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the 
         registration statement or any material change to such information in 
         the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                                     -2-

<PAGE>   4


     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and each filing of the Plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                     - 3 -


<PAGE>   5


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Sturtevant, State of Wisconsin, on this 21st day of
November, 1996.

                                    VERSA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                    By: /s/ James E. Mohrhauser
                                       --------------------------------------
                                           James E. Mohrhauser
                                           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


       Signature               Title                                
       ---------               -----                                
    
    
/s/ James E. Mohrhauser   Chairman and Chief
-----------------------   Executive Officer (Principal
James E. Mohrhauser       Executive Officer) and Director
    
    
/s/ Robert M. Sukalich    Vice President-Finance,
-----------------------   Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Robert M. Sukalich        (Principal Financial and         
                          Accounting Officer)              
                          
                          
/s/ Thomas J. Magulski    President and Chief
-----------------------   Operating Officer and Director
Thomas J. Magulski        
    
    
/s/ Morris W. Reid        Vice Chairman and Director
-----------------------
Morris W. Reid    
    
    
/s/ Denis H. Carroll      Director
-----------------------
Denis H. Carroll    
    
    
/s/ William P. Killian    Director
-----------------------
William P. Killian                     

                                     - 4 -

                           

<PAGE>   6



       Signature               Title                                
       ---------               -----                                


    
    
/s/ Joan R. Lloyd         Director
-----------------------
Joan R. Lloyd    
    
    
/s/ Herman B. McManaway   Director
-----------------------
Herman B. McManaway    
    
    
/s/ Richard H. Marks      Director
-----------------------
Richard H. Marks    
    


    
                                         - 5 -
    
    
<PAGE>   7
    
    
    
                                   INDEX TO EXHIBITS
    

EXHIBIT
 INDEX
-------
  4        Versa Technologies, Inc. 1992 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan
           (incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Proxy Statement dated
           June 17, 1996).

  5        Opinion of Schiff Hardin & Waite.

 23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 23.2      Consent of Schiff Hardin & Waite (contained in their opinion filed as
           Exhibit 5).


                                     - 6 -
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14394}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VERSA TECHNOLOGIES INC", "cik": "0000320357", "assigned-sic": "3060", "irs-number": "391143618", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-17135", "film-number": "96674921"}, "business-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 085012", "city": "RACINE", "state": "WI", "zip": "53406-5012", "phone": "4148861174"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "9301 WASHINGTON AVE", "street2": "P.O. BOX 085012", "city": "RACINE", "state": "WI", "zip": "53406-5012"}}
1
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 2, 1996

                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------
                            VERSA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

           DELAWARE                                         39-1143618
  (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
  INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                            IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                             9301 WASHINGTON AVENUE
                          STURTEVANT, WISCONSIN 53177
          (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES, INCLUDING ZIP CODE)

                     VERSA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1992 EMPLOYEE
                          INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (FULL TITLE OF PLAN)

                               ROBERT M. SUKALICH
                            VERSA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                             9301 WASHINGTON AVENUE
                          STURTEVANT, WISCONSIN  53177
                    (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                 (414) 886-1174
         (TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                WITH A COPY TO:

                              LINDA JEFFRIES WIGHT
                             SCHIFF HARDIN & WAITE
                                7200 SEARS TOWER
                            CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606
                                 (312) 258-5619
                            -----------------------

                       CALCULATION  OF  REGISTRATION  FEE
=================================================================================================================================
                                                                        Proposed         Proposed
                                                           Amount       maximum           maximum
                                                            to be      offering price    aggregate              Amount of
Title of securities to be registered                       registered  per share (1)     offering price (1)   registration fee (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 
(including Preferred Stock Purchase Rights)               200,000      $13.50          $2,700,000                  $819

=================================================================================================================================
(1) Estimated on the basis of $13.50 per share, the average of the high and low
    sales prices as quoted on NASDAQ - NMS on November 25, 1996, pursuant 
    to Rules 457(h) and 457(c).
2

                                    PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed by Versa Technologies, Inc. (the
"Registrant")  are hereby incorporated by reference:

      (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form
           10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996;

      (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form
           10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 1996 and
           September 30, 1996;

      (c)  The description of the Registrant's
           Preferred Stock Purchase Rights contained in the
           Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
           dated December 16, 1988, including any amendment
           or report filed for the purpose of updating such
           description;

      (d)  The description of the Registrant's Common
           Stock, par value $0.01 per share, contained in
           the Registrant's Registration Statement under the
           Exchange Act dated November 17, 1970, including
           any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
           updating such description; and

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereto from the
date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

          The legality of the Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Versa 
Technologies, Inc. 1992 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan has been passed
upon for the Registrant by Schiff Hardin & Waite, 7200 Sears Tower, Chicago,    
Illinois 60606.  A member of the firm participating in the representation of
the Registrant is an officer of the Registrant, owns 6,000 shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock and holds options to purchase an additional 5,000
shares of the Registrant's Common Stock.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

          The Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Registrant provide for indemnification by the Registrant of each of its
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law or liability
(including liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act")) of
such director or officer arising 

                                     -1-
3

by reason of his or her status as a director or officer of the Registrant,
provided that he or she met the standards established in the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, which include requirements that he or she acted
in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the
Registrant's best interest.  The Registrant will also advance expenses prior to
final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by the director or officer to repay such amount if the director or
officer is not entitled to indemnification.  All rights to indemnification and
advancement of expenses are deemed to be a contract between the Registrant and
its directors and officers.  The determination that a director or officer has
met the standards established in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws may be made by majority vote or a quorum consisting of disinterested
directors, an opinion of counsel (if no such quorum is available), a majority
vote of stockholders, or a court (which may also overturn any of the preceding
determinations).  The Registrant has purchased insurance against liabilities of
directors or officers, as permitted by the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

          The Exhibits filed herewith are set forth on the Index to Exhibits 
filed as part of this Registration Statement on page 6 hereof.

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

          The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                     (i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                     (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events 
         arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or 
         the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
         individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
         information set forth in the registration statement; and

                     (iii) To include any material information with respect 
         to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the 
         registration statement or any material change to such information in 
         the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                                     -2-
4

     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and each filing of the Plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                     - 3 -
5

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Sturtevant, State of Wisconsin, on this 21st day of
November, 1996.

                                    VERSA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                    By: /s/ James E. Mohrhauser
                                       --------------------------------------
                                           James E. Mohrhauser
                                           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

       Signature               Title                                
       ---------               -----                                
    
    
/s/ James E. Mohrhauser   Chairman and Chief
-----------------------   Executive Officer (Principal
James E. Mohrhauser       Executive Officer) and Director
    
    
/s/ Robert M. Sukalich    Vice President-Finance,
-----------------------   Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Robert M. Sukalich        (Principal Financial and         
                          Accounting Officer)              
                          
                          
/s/ Thomas J. Magulski    President and Chief
-----------------------   Operating Officer and Director
Thomas J. Magulski        
    
    
/s/ Morris W. Reid        Vice Chairman and Director
-----------------------
Morris W. Reid    
    
    
/s/ Denis H. Carroll      Director
-----------------------
Denis H. Carroll    
    
    
/s/ William P. Killian    Director
-----------------------
William P. Killian                     

                                     - 4 -
6

       Signature               Title                                
       ---------               -----                                

    
    
/s/ Joan R. Lloyd         Director
-----------------------
Joan R. Lloyd    
    
    
/s/ Herman B. McManaway   Director
-----------------------
Herman B. McManaway    
    
    
/s/ Richard H. Marks      Director
-----------------------
Richard H. Marks    
    

    
                                         - 5 -
7
    
    
    
                                   INDEX TO EXHIBITS
    

EXHIBIT
 INDEX
-------
  4        Versa Technologies, Inc. 1992 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan
           (incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Proxy Statement dated
           June 17, 1996).

  5        Opinion of Schiff Hardin & Waite.

 23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 23.2      Consent of Schiff Hardin & Waite (contained in their opinion filed as
           Exhibit 5).

                                     - 6 -