content: <!-- CoverPageHeader start -->
  <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
  <HTML>
  <HEAD>
  <TITLE> Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (Form: 8-K) </TITLE>
  </HEAD>
  <BODY TEXT="#000000" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" ALINK="#0000FF" HLINK="#FF0000" VLINK="#800080">
  <A NAME="DOCUMENT_TOP">&nbsp;</A>
  <P>
  <!-- CoverPageHeader end --><!-- CoverPageTitle START -->
  <A NAME="DOCUMENT_TOP">&nbsp;</A>
  <HR NOSHADE>
  <P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">
  <FONT SIZE="4">
  		UNITED STATES<BR>
  	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  </FONT>
  <BR>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  </FONT>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">
  <FONT SIZE="5">
  	FORM 8-K
  </FONT>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">
  <FONT SIZE="3">
  	CURRENT REPORT
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <CENTER>
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD WIDTH="51%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="5%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="44%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	April 17, 2006
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  </TABLE>
  <BR>
  </CENTER>
  <!-- CoverPageTitle END --><!-- CoverPageRegistrant START -->
  <P ALIGN="CENTER"><!-- -->
  <FONT SIZE="6">
  	Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
  </FONT>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <BR>__________________________________________<BR>
  	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  </FONT>
  <CENTER>
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD WIDTH="33%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="34%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="33%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	Minnesota
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	0-14709
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	41-0901840
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  _____________________<BR>
  	(State or other jurisdiction
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  _____________<BR>
  	(Commission
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  ______________<BR>
  	(I.R.S. Employer
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	of incorporation)
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	File Number)
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	Identification No.)
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	40 West Highland Park Drive N.E., Hutchinson, Minnesota
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	55350
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  _________________________________<BR>
  	(Address of principal executive offices)
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  ___________<BR>
  	(Zip Code)
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  </TABLE>
  </CENTER>
  <CENTER>
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
  
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD WIDTH="51%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="5%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="44%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code:
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	(320) 587-3797
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  </TABLE>
  </CENTER>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	Not Applicable
  <BR>______________________________________________<BR>
  	Former name or former address, if changed since last report
  </FONT>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  <!-- CoverPageRegistrant END --><P><FONT SIZE="2">
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
  of the following provisions:</FONT>
  </P>
  <P><FONT SIZE="2">
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<br>
  </P></FONT><!-- PageBreak START -->
  <P>
  <HR NOSHADE>
  <DIV ALIGN="LEFT" STYLE="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE:ALWAYS">
  <A HREF="#DOCUMENT_TOP">
  <U>
  <B>
  <FONT SIZE="2">Top of the Form</FONT>
  </B>
  </U>
  </A>
  </DIV>
  <!-- PageBreak END --><!-- Item START -->
  <P ALIGN="LEFT">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <B>
  	Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
  </B>
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <P ALIGN="LEFT">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
          On April 18, 2006, the Board of Directors of Hutchinson Technology Incorporated elected Thomas R. VerHage to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.  Mr. VerHage has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Donaldson Company, Inc., a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems and replacement parts, since March 2004.  Prior to that time, Mr. VerHage was a partner for Deloitte & Touche, LLP from 2002 to 2004 and prior to that a partner for Arthur Andersen, LLP from 1987 to 2002.  <br><br>	The Board of Directors appointed Mr. VerHage as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.  <br><br>	In accordance with Hutchinson Technology Incorporated&#x2019;s Principles of Corporate Governance, R. Frederick McCoy offered his resignation from the Board of Directors because of a change in his principal employment status.  The Board of Directors accepted his resignation effective April 17, 2006.  <br>
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <!-- Item END -->
  <BR><BR><BR><BR><!-- Item START -->
  <P ALIGN="LEFT">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <B>
  	Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  </B>
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <P ALIGN="LEFT">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  (d) Exhibits<br><br>99 Press Release dated April 21, 2006
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <!-- Item END -->
  <BR><BR><BR><BR><P ALIGN="LEFT" STYLE="FONT-SIZE: 10PT"></P><!-- PageBreak START -->
  <P>
  <HR NOSHADE>
  <DIV ALIGN="LEFT" STYLE="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE:ALWAYS">
  <A HREF="#DOCUMENT_TOP">
  <U>
  <B>
  <FONT SIZE="2">Top of the Form</FONT>
  </B>
  </U>
  </A>
  </DIV>
  <!-- PageBreak END --><!-- SignatureHeader START -->
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <B>
  	SIGNATURES
  </B>
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <P ALIGN="LEFT">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	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.
  </FONT>
  </P>
  <!-- SignatureHeader END --><!-- Signature START -->
  <CENTER>
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD WIDTH="19%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="34%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="3%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="1%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="43%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD COLSPAN="3" VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="LEFT">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <I>
  	April 21, 2006
  </I>
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <I>
  	By:
  </I>
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <I>
  	Richard J. Penn
  </I>
  <BR>
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <I>
  	Name: Richard J. Penn
  </I>
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <I>
  	Title: Senior Vice President, President of Disk Drive Components Division
  </I>
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  </TABLE>
  </CENTER>
  <!-- Signature END --><!-- PageBreak START -->
  <P>
  <HR NOSHADE>
  <DIV ALIGN="LEFT" STYLE="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE:ALWAYS">
  <A HREF="#DOCUMENT_TOP">
  <U>
  <B>
  <FONT SIZE="2">Top of the Form</FONT>
  </B>
  </U>
  </A>
  </DIV>
  <!-- PageBreak END --><P ALIGN="CENTER">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	Exhibit&nbsp;Index
  </FONT>
  <CENTER>
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="60%">
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD WIDTH="8%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="15%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="77%">
  	&nbsp;
  </TD>
  </TR>
  
  <BR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD NOWRAP ALIGN="LEFT">
  <FONT SIZE="1">
  <B>
  	Exhibit No.
  </B>
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="1">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD NOWRAP ALIGN="LEFT">
  <FONT SIZE="1">
  <B>
  	Description
  </B>
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD NOWRAP ALIGN="CENTER">
  <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <FONT SIZE="1">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD NOWRAP ALIGN="CENTER">
  <HR ALIGN="LEFT" SIZE="1" WIDTH="88%" NOSHADE>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  
  
  
  
  
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <TD VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="8%" nowrap>
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  <DIV ALIGN="LEFT">
  	99
  </DIV>
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD WIDTH="15%">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  	&nbsp;
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="77%">
  <FONT SIZE="2">
  Press Release dated April 21, 2006
  </FONT>
  </TD>
  </TR></TABLE></CENTER><!-- HTMLFooter START -->
  </BODY>
  </HTML>
  <!-- HTMLFooter END -->
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "htm_11779.htm", "description": "LIVE FILING", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10780}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INC", "cik": "0000772897", "assigned-sic": "3679", "irs-number": "410901840", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "0924"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-14709", "film-number": "06772330"}, "business-address": {"street1": "40 W HIGHLAND PARK", "city": "HUTCHINSON", "state": "MN", "zip": "55350", "phone": "3205873797"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "40 W HIGHLAND PARK", "street2": "40 W HIGHLAND PARK", "city": "HUTCHINSON", "state": "MN", "zip": "55350"}}
text: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (Form: 8-K)
  UNITED STATES
  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):
  April 17, 2006
  Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
  __________________________________________
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Minnesota
  0-14709
  41-0901840
  _____________________
  (State or other jurisdiction
  _____________
  (Commission
  ______________
  (I.R.S. Employer
  of incorporation)
  File Number)
  Identification No.)
  40 West Highland Park Drive N.E., Hutchinson, Minnesota
  55350
  _________________________________
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
  (Zip Code)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
  (320) 587-3797
  Not Applicable
  ______________________________________________
  Former name or former address, if changed since last report
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
  of the following provisions:
  [  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  [  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  [  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Top of the Form
  Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
  On April 18, 2006, the Board of Directors of Hutchinson Technology Incorporated elected Thomas R. VerHage to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.  Mr. VerHage has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Donaldson Company, Inc., a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems and replacement parts, since March 2004.  Prior to that time, Mr. VerHage was a partner for Deloitte & Touche, LLP from 2002 to 2004 and prior to that a partner for Arthur Andersen, LLP from 1987 to 2002.
  The Board of Directors appointed Mr. VerHage as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
  In accordance with Hutchinson Technology Incorporated's Principles of Corporate Governance, R. Frederick McCoy offered his resignation from the Board of Directors because of a change in his principal employment status.  The Board of Directors accepted his resignation effective April 17, 2006.
  Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (d) Exhibits
  99 Press Release dated April 21, 2006
  Top of the Form
  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.
  Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
  April 21, 2006
  By:
  Richard J. Penn
  Name: Richard J. Penn
  Title: Senior Vice President, President of Disk Drive Components Division
  Top of the Form
  Exhibit Index
  Exhibit No.
  Description
  99
  Press Release dated April 21, 2006