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): March 17, 2003


                     PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Delaware
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


     0-27460                                           16-1158413
(Commission File Number)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


205 Indigo Creek Drive, Rochester, New York                   14626
 (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)


                                 (585) 256-0200
                (Company's telephone number, including area code)


                                (Not Applicable)
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




<PAGE>



Item 5.  Other Events

On March 17, 2003,  Performance  Technologies  announced it had appointed Robert
Tillman, former president of Ziatech Corporation, to its Board of Directors.

Mr.  Tillman  joined  Ziatech  Corporation  in  1997  as  president  and led the
organization  as an independent  embedded  systems  supplier until October 2000,
when Intel Corporation acquired the company. After the acquisition by Intel, Mr.
Tillman held the  position of general  manager for the Ziatech  operation  until
October 2002, when  Performance  Technologies  acquired this group.  Mr. Tillman
came to Ziatech following a 25-year career with Hewlett-Packard, where he served
as division general manager for four different locations.

A press release  announcing  the foregoing  matter is filed  herewith as Exhibit
99.1


In a letter dated April 2, 2003 to the Chairman of our Board of Directors,  Paul
L. Smith  indicated that he has decided not to stand for  re-election to another
term as a Director of  Performance  Technologies,  Incorporated.  Mr.  Smith has
served as a Director since 1993 and his current term expires as of June 3, 2003.

Mr. Smith stated that changes in his personal  priorities and obligations  would
make it difficult for him to actively and fully participate as a Director in the
future.  He  further  stated  that he had no  disagreements  with  the  Board of
Directors or management of the Company.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Proforma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits.

     (99.1) Press release issued by Performance  Technologies,  Incorporated  on
            March 17, 2003.





<PAGE>



                                   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.


                     PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED


April 10, 2003                      By: /s/      Donald L. Turrell
                              -------------------------------------
                                                 Donald L. Turrell
                                                 President and
                                                 Chief Executive Officer




April 10, 2003                     By: /s/       Dorrance W. Lamb
                              -------------------------------------
                                                 Dorrance W. Lamb
                                                 Chief Financial Officer and
                                                 Vice President, Finance



<PAGE>




                                                                 Exhibit 99.1


              Performance Technologies Appoints Former President of
                   Ziatech Corporation to Board of Directors

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - March 17, 2003 - Performance Technologies (Nasdaq NM: PTIX), a
leader in unified systems design for the communications, industrial and military
markets,  today announced it has appointed  Robert Tillman,  former president of
Ziatech Corporation, to its Board of Directors.

Mr.  Tillman  joined  Ziatech  Corporation  in  1997  as  president  and led the
organization  as an independent  embedded  systems  supplier until October 2000,
when Intel Corporation acquired the company. After the acquisition by Intel, Mr.
Tillman held the  position of general  manager for the Ziatech  operation  until
October 2002, when  Performance  Technologies  acquired this group.  Mr. Tillman
came to Ziatech following a 25-year career with Hewlett-Packard, where he served
as division general manager for four different locations.

"Over the past  several  months,  Performance  Technologies  has  realigned  its
position in the market to offer a more unified set of systems and solutions to a
wider target market. The Ziatech  acquisition was the primary thrust behind this
expansion,  and we fully  expect to benefit  from Bob's  experience  as a former
senior  executive of the Ziatech  organization as we move the company  forward,"
said John Slusser, chairman of the board. "We are honored to have someone of his
knowledge,  depth and experience on our Board.  He will be an important asset to
this organization."
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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): March 17, 2003

                     PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Delaware
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

     0-27460                                           16-1158413
(Commission File Number)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

205 Indigo Creek Drive, Rochester, New York                   14626
 (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

                                 (585) 256-0200
                (Company's telephone number, including area code)

                                (Not Applicable)
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5.  Other Events

On March 17, 2003,  Performance  Technologies  announced it had appointed Robert
Tillman, former president of Ziatech Corporation, to its Board of Directors.

Mr.  Tillman  joined  Ziatech  Corporation  in  1997  as  president  and led the
organization  as an independent  embedded  systems  supplier until October 2000,
when Intel Corporation acquired the company. After the acquisition by Intel, Mr.
Tillman held the  position of general  manager for the Ziatech  operation  until
October 2002, when  Performance  Technologies  acquired this group.  Mr. Tillman
came to Ziatech following a 25-year career with Hewlett-Packard, where he served
as division general manager for four different locations.

A press release  announcing  the foregoing  matter is filed  herewith as Exhibit
99.1

In a letter dated April 2, 2003 to the Chairman of our Board of Directors,  Paul
L. Smith  indicated that he has decided not to stand for  re-election to another
term as a Director of  Performance  Technologies,  Incorporated.  Mr.  Smith has
served as a Director since 1993 and his current term expires as of June 3, 2003.

Mr. Smith stated that changes in his personal  priorities and obligations  would
make it difficult for him to actively and fully participate as a Director in the
future.  He  further  stated  that he had no  disagreements  with  the  Board of
Directors or management of the Company.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Proforma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits.

     (99.1) Press release issued by Performance  Technologies,  Incorporated  on
            March 17, 2003.
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.

                     PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED

April 10, 2003                      By: /s/      Donald L. Turrell
                              -------------------------------------
                                                 Donald L. Turrell
                                                 President and
                                                 Chief Executive Officer

April 10, 2003                     By: /s/       Dorrance W. Lamb
                              -------------------------------------
                                                 Dorrance W. Lamb
                                                 Chief Financial Officer and
                                                 Vice President, Finance
Exhibit 99.1

              Performance Technologies Appoints Former President of
                   Ziatech Corporation to Board of Directors

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - March 17, 2003 - Performance Technologies (Nasdaq NM: PTIX), a
leader in unified systems design for the communications, industrial and military
markets,  today announced it has appointed  Robert Tillman,  former president of
Ziatech Corporation, to its Board of Directors.

Mr.  Tillman  joined  Ziatech  Corporation  in  1997  as  president  and led the
organization  as an independent  embedded  systems  supplier until October 2000,
when Intel Corporation acquired the company. After the acquisition by Intel, Mr.
Tillman held the  position of general  manager for the Ziatech  operation  until
October 2002, when  Performance  Technologies  acquired this group.  Mr. Tillman
came to Ziatech following a 25-year career with Hewlett-Packard, where he served
as division general manager for four different locations.

"Over the past  several  months,  Performance  Technologies  has  realigned  its
position in the market to offer a more unified set of systems and solutions to a
wider target market. The Ziatech  acquisition was the primary thrust behind this
expansion,  and we fully  expect to benefit  from Bob's  experience  as a former
senior  executive of the Ziatech  organization as we move the company  forward,"
said John Slusser, chairman of the board. "We are honored to have someone of his
knowledge,  depth and experience on our Board.  He will be an important asset to
this organization."