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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    Form 8-A

                For Registration of Certain Classes of Securities
                     Pursuant to Section 12(b) or (g) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                              MKS Instruments, Inc.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


MASSACHUSETTS                                         04-2277512
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(State of incorporation                               (IRS Employer
or organization)                                      Identification No.)


                      Six Shattuck Road, Andover, MA 01810
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(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the
following box.

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If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1993 pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c)(2), please check the following box.

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       SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:


                                      None


       SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

                           COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE
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                                (Title of class)



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Item 1:  DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

         The description under the heading "Description of Capital Stock"
relating to the Registrant's Common Stock, no par value per share, in the
Prospectus included in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration Statement
on Form S-1") (File No. 333-40269) is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 2:  EXHIBITS.

         The following exhibits are filed herewith (or incorporated by reference
as indicated below):

         1.    Restated Articles of Organization of the Registrant, as amended,
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1.

         2.    Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Organization, 
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's 
               Registration Statement on Form S-1.

         3.    Bylaws, as amended, of the Registrant, incorporated by reference
               to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on 
               Form S-1.

         4.    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant,
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1.



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                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.



                                            MKS Instruments, Inc.


                                            By: /s/ John R. Bertucci
                                                -------------------------
                                                John R. Bertucci
                                                Chairman, President and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer


Dated: January 15, 1998



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