sec document

                       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): October 15, 2002



                               SL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                               -------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



New Jersey                            1-4987               21-0682685
----------------------------          -------------        ---------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction          (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)                     File Number)         Identification No.)



                         520 Fellowship Road, Suite A114
                         Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054
                         ------------------------------
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)


                                 (856) 727-1500
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                       N/A
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





ITEM 5.       OTHER EVENTS.

            On October 15, 2002, SL Industries,  Inc. (the "Company")  announced
that  it  signed  a  commitment  letter  with  LaSalle  Business  Credit,   Inc.
("LaSalle"),  as Agent for Standard Federal National  Association,  to refinance
its existing credit  facility.  The anticipated  closing date for the new credit
facility with LaSalle is on or prior to October 31, 2002. In connection with the
refinancing  of the Company's  existing  credit  facility,  the Company has also
signed a commitment letter with Steel Partners II, L.P. ("Steel  Partners"),  an
entity  controlled by Warren  Lichtenstein,  SL  Industries'  Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer.  This commitment letter provides for Steel Partners to make a
subordinated  loan in the amount of $5 million to the Company on or  immediately
prior to the closing of the credit facility with LaSalle.

            For additional  information,  reference is made to the press release
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

            On October 15,  2002,  the Company  also  announced  that it filed a
registration  statement  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")
relating to a distribution it plans to make to its  shareholders of subscription
rights to purchase  additional  shares of common stock of the Company.  Upon the
effectiveness of the registration statement,  the Company will distribute to its
shareholders of record as of the record date, which has not yet been determined,
a fixed amount of non-transferable  rights to subscribe for shares of its common
stock. It is anticipated that each right will entitle the holder to purchase one
share of the Company's  common stock at a price to be determined.  The number of
rights to be issued with respect to each outstanding share on the record date is
also to be determined.  The Company  anticipates  that the rights  offering will
begin promptly after the effectiveness of the registration  statement filed with
the SEC, and will continue for thirty days thereafter.

            Steel  Partners has agreed to purchase any shares of common stock of
the Company  available  under the rights  offering that are not purchased by the
Company's  shareholders,  subject to a $5 million  limit.  The  proceeds  of the
rights  offering  will be used to repay the $5  million  subordinated  loan from
Steel Partners mentioned above. Any additional proceeds will be used for working
capital purposes.

            For additional  information,  reference is made to the press release
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

ITEM 7.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

(c)    Exhibits.

       The following are filed as Exhibits to this Report:

Exhibit Number          Description
--------------          -----------

99.1                    Press Release dated October 15, 2002.
99.2                    Press Release dated October 15, 2002.





                                   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.


                                                SL Industries, Inc.


Date:  October 16, 2002                         By: /s/ Glen Kassan
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Glen Kassan
                                                    President







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                Exhibit Number          Description
                --------------          -----------

                99.1                    Press Release dated October 15, 2002.
                99.2                    Press Release dated October 15, 2002.