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):

                                January 31, 2000

                    ----------------------------------------


                               THERMO SENTRON INC.
                         ------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                             1-14254                         41-1827303
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other                    (Commission                  (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                    File Number)           Identification Number)
incorporation or
organization)


501 90th Avenue NW
Minneapolis, Minnesota                                                     55433
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                             (Zip Code)


                                 (781) 622-1000
                         (Registrant's telephone number
                              including area code)



<PAGE>








         This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements that involve a number
of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements
include those set forth under the heading "Forward-looking Statements" in
Exhibit 13 to the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
January 2, 1999. These include risks and uncertainties relating to: government
regulation and approvals, the impact of technological change and competitive
products and pricing, technology and product development, fluctuation in
quarterly performance, international operations, the company's acquisition
strategy, and the potential impact of the year 2000 on processing date-sensitive
information.

Item 5.  Other Events
         ------------

         On January 31, 2000, the Registrant issued a press release, attached
hereto as Exhibit 99, regarding certain corporate transactions affecting the
Registrant.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         ------------------------------------------------------------------

         (a)      Financial Statements of Business Acquired: not applicable.

         (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information: not applicable.

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99 Press Release dated January 31, 2000.






<PAGE>




                                    SIGNATURE



         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, thereunto duly authorized, on this 31st day of January, 2000.



                                                 THERMO SENTRON INC.


                                                 By:/s/ Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                                    Chief Financial Officer


<PAGE>


                                                                      Exhibit 99
Investor Contact: 781-622-1111
Media Contact: 781-622-1252


                          THERMO SENTRON ANNOUNCES CASH
                           TENDER OFFER BY THERMEDICS

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., January 31, 2000 - Thermo Sentron Inc. (ASE-TSR), a Thermo
Electron company (NYSE-TMO), announced today that its parent company, Thermedics
Inc. (ASE-TMD), will make a cash tender offer for any and all of the outstanding
shares of Thermo Sentron common stock at $15.50 per share. This action is part
of a major reorganization plan under which Thermo Electron will spin in, spin
off, and sell various businesses to focus solely on its core measurement and
detection instruments business.

         Thermedics currently owns approximately 74.2 percent of the outstanding
shares of Thermo Sentron common stock. Thermedics will condition the tender
offer on receiving acceptances from holders of enough shares so that, when
combined with its current share ownership, Thermedics' ownership reaches at
least 90 percent. If Thermedics achieves this 90-percent-ownership threshold, it
will acquire all remaining outstanding shares of Thermo Sentron common stock
through a "short-form" merger in Delaware. Shareholders who do not tender shares
to Thermedics during the tender offer would also receive $15.50 per share in
cash for their stock in the short-form merger.

         Thermo Electron, which owns approximately 12.4 percent of the
outstanding shares of Thermo Sentron common stock, will tender its shares to
Thermedics in the tender offer.

         The tender offer and proposed subsequent short-form merger require
Securities and Exchange Commission clearance of necessary filings; a short-form
merger would not require Thermo Sentron board or shareholder approval.

         The Thermedics board of directors has approved pursuing this proposed
tender offer and short-form merger in lieu of continuing negotiations over a
merger price with the Thermo Sentron special committee of its board of
directors.

         Thermedics plans to conduct the tender offer during the second quarter
of 2000. If Thermedics successfully obtains ownership of at least 90 percent of
the outstanding Thermo Sentron shares, it expects to complete the spin-in by the
end of the second quarter of 2000.

         Thermo Sentron Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets high-speed
precision-weighing and inspection equipment for packaging lines in the food,
pharmaceutical, mail order, and other industries, as well as for industries
using bulk materials. The company's products for the packaged-goods market
include checkweighers and metal detectors. More information is available on the
Internet at http://www.thermo.com/subsid/tsr1.html.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
THE TENDER OFFER THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT YET COMMENCED.
ONCE THE TENDER OFFER COMMENCES, WE WILL FILE A SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION
STATEMENT WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. YOU SHOULD READ THIS
DOCUMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT

                                     -more-


<PAGE>


INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENDER OFFER. YOU CAN OBTAIN THE
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR FREE WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE ON
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION'S WEB SITE AT http://www.sec.gov. ALSO,
IF YOU WRITE US OR CALL US, WE WILL SEND YOU THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION
STATEMENT FOR FREE WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE.

YOU CAN CALL US AT (781) 622-1111 OR WRITE TO US AT:

         INVESTOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
         THERMO SENTRON INC.
         81 WYMAN STREET, P.O. BOX 9046
         WALTHAM, MA 02454-9046

The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking
statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by
such forward-looking statements include those set forth under the heading
"Forward-looking Statements" in Exhibit 13 to the company's annual report on
Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 1999. These include risks and
uncertainties relating to: government regulation and approvals, the impact of
technological change and competitive products and pricing, technology and
product development, fluctuation in quarterly performance, international
operations, the company's acquisition strategy, and the potential impact of the
year 2000 on processing date-sensitive information.
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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):

                                January 31, 2000

                    ----------------------------------------

                               THERMO SENTRON INC.
                         ------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                             1-14254                         41-1827303
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other                    (Commission                  (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                    File Number)           Identification Number)
incorporation or
organization)

501 90th Avenue NW
Minneapolis, Minnesota                                                     55433
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                             (Zip Code)

                                 (781) 622-1000
                         (Registrant's telephone number
                              including area code)
This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements that involve a number
of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements
include those set forth under the heading "Forward-looking Statements" in
Exhibit 13 to the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
January 2, 1999. These include risks and uncertainties relating to: government
regulation and approvals, the impact of technological change and competitive
products and pricing, technology and product development, fluctuation in
quarterly performance, international operations, the company's acquisition
strategy, and the potential impact of the year 2000 on processing date-sensitive
information.

Item 5.  Other Events
         ------------

         On January 31, 2000, the Registrant issued a press release, attached
hereto as Exhibit 99, regarding certain corporate transactions affecting the
Registrant.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         ------------------------------------------------------------------

         (a)      Financial Statements of Business Acquired: not applicable.

         (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information: not applicable.

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99 Press Release dated January 31, 2000.
SIGNATURE

         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, thereunto duly authorized, on this 31st day of January, 2000.

                                                 THERMO SENTRON INC.

                                                 By:/s/ Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                                    Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 99
Investor Contact: 781-622-1111
Media Contact: 781-622-1252

                          THERMO SENTRON ANNOUNCES CASH
                           TENDER OFFER BY THERMEDICS

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., January 31, 2000 - Thermo Sentron Inc. (ASE-TSR), a Thermo
Electron company (NYSE-TMO), announced today that its parent company, Thermedics
Inc. (ASE-TMD), will make a cash tender offer for any and all of the outstanding
shares of Thermo Sentron common stock at $15.50 per share. This action is part
of a major reorganization plan under which Thermo Electron will spin in, spin
off, and sell various businesses to focus solely on its core measurement and
detection instruments business.

         Thermedics currently owns approximately 74.2 percent of the outstanding
shares of Thermo Sentron common stock. Thermedics will condition the tender
offer on receiving acceptances from holders of enough shares so that, when
combined with its current share ownership, Thermedics' ownership reaches at
least 90 percent. If Thermedics achieves this 90-percent-ownership threshold, it
will acquire all remaining outstanding shares of Thermo Sentron common stock
through a "short-form" merger in Delaware. Shareholders who do not tender shares
to Thermedics during the tender offer would also receive $15.50 per share in
cash for their stock in the short-form merger.

         Thermo Electron, which owns approximately 12.4 percent of the
outstanding shares of Thermo Sentron common stock, will tender its shares to
Thermedics in the tender offer.

         The tender offer and proposed subsequent short-form merger require
Securities and Exchange Commission clearance of necessary filings; a short-form
merger would not require Thermo Sentron board or shareholder approval.

         The Thermedics board of directors has approved pursuing this proposed
tender offer and short-form merger in lieu of continuing negotiations over a
merger price with the Thermo Sentron special committee of its board of
directors.

         Thermedics plans to conduct the tender offer during the second quarter
of 2000. If Thermedics successfully obtains ownership of at least 90 percent of
the outstanding Thermo Sentron shares, it expects to complete the spin-in by the
end of the second quarter of 2000.

         Thermo Sentron Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets high-speed
precision-weighing and inspection equipment for packaging lines in the food,
pharmaceutical, mail order, and other industries, as well as for industries
using bulk materials. The company's products for the packaged-goods market
include checkweighers and metal detectors. More information is available on the
Internet at http://www.thermo.com/subsid/tsr1.html.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
THE TENDER OFFER THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT YET COMMENCED.
ONCE THE TENDER OFFER COMMENCES, WE WILL FILE A SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION
STATEMENT WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. YOU SHOULD READ THIS
DOCUMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT

                                     -more-
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENDER OFFER. YOU CAN OBTAIN THE
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR FREE WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE ON
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION'S WEB SITE AT http://www.sec.gov. ALSO,
IF YOU WRITE US OR CALL US, WE WILL SEND YOU THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION
STATEMENT FOR FREE WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE.

YOU CAN CALL US AT (781) 622-1111 OR WRITE TO US AT:

         INVESTOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
         THERMO SENTRON INC.
         81 WYMAN STREET, P.O. BOX 9046
         WALTHAM, MA 02454-9046

The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking
statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by
such forward-looking statements include those set forth under the heading
"Forward-looking Statements" in Exhibit 13 to the company's annual report on
Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 1999. These include risks and
uncertainties relating to: government regulation and approvals, the impact of
technological change and competitive products and pricing, technology and
product development, fluctuation in quarterly performance, international
operations, the company's acquisition strategy, and the potential impact of the
year 2000 on processing date-sensitive information.