UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

(Mark One)

þ		ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 1-12981

Solidstate Controls, Inc.
Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan

(Full title of the plan)

AMETEK, Inc.
1100 Cassatt Road, P.O. Box 1764
Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312-1177
(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan
and the address of its principal executive office)

 

 

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan

Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule

Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009

Contents

Financial Statements (Unaudited):
Statements of Assets Available for Benefits			2
Statements of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits			3
Notes to Financial Statements			4
Supplemental Schedule:
Schedule H, Line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)			11
Signatures			12

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan

Statements of Assets Available for Benefits
(Unaudited)

		December 31,
		2010				2009
Assets:
Investments		$	1,616,776			$	1,384,007
Investment in the AMETEK, Inc. Master Trust			429,060				278,965
Total investments, at fair value			2,045,836				1,662,972
Receivables:
Employer contributions			90,537				109,569
Participant contributions			38,198				4,904
Notes receivable from participants			203,547				131,551
Total receivables			332,282				246,024
Assets available for benefits, at fair value			2,378,118				1,908,996
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for Common Collective Trust			(15,105	)			(7,805	)
Assets available for benefits		$	2,363,013			$	1,901,191

See accompanying notes.

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan

Statements of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits
(Unaudited)

		Year Ended December 31,
		2010				2009
Additions:
Contributions:
Employer		$	128,735			$	109,569
Participant			75,122				71,325
			203,857				180,894
Investment income:
Net appreciation in fair value of investments			103,738				137,727
Interest and dividend income from investments			39,853				39,039
Interest income on notes receivable from participants			8,960				8,447
Plan interest in the AMETEK, Inc. Master Trust			154,815				52,774
			307,366				237,987
Total additions			511,223				418,881
Deductions:
Benefits paid to participants			(49,401	)			(33,949	)
Net increase			461,822				384,932
Assets available for benefits:
Beginning of year			1,901,191				1,516,259
End of year		$	2,363,013			$	1,901,191

See accompanying notes.

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

1. Description of the Plan

General

     The following description of the Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) provides only summarized information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions, copies of which may be obtained from AMETEK, Inc. (“AMETEK”, the “Company” or the “Plan Sponsor”).

     The Plan is a tax-deferred 401(k) defined contribution savings plan which provides eligible employees (whose employment is governed by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with the Communications Workers of America (CWA)) of Solidstate Controls, Inc., an opportunity to invest a portion of their compensation, as defined by the Plan, in one or a combination of investment programs. See Note 3.

Participant Eligibility

     A Solidstate Controls, Inc. CWA employee, who is not specifically an ineligible employee as defined by the Plan, shall become a participant in the Plan as of the first day of a fiscal quarter beginning after the completion of one year of service.

Contributions

     Each year, participants have an opportunity to invest up to 16% (maximum 6% before tax and maximum 10% after tax) of their annual compensation, as defined by the Plan, in multiples of one percent, except for certain highly compensated participants who may be subject to certain regulatory limitations. Certain groups of participants have an opportunity to invest catch-up contributions up to Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) annual limits. Participants may also contribute amounts representing rollovers from other qualified plans. Participants direct their elective contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan and can change their investment options on a daily basis.

     The Plan provides for AMETEK contributions equal to 50% of compensation contributed by each participant, up to a maximum percentage ranging from 1% to 6% of the participants’ compensation as determined by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Matching Company contributions are credited to participants’ accounts typically on an annual lump sum basis and are allocated in the same manner as that of the participant’s elections. However, the Company may make its matching contribution payment to the Plan at any time prior to the due date prescribed by law for filing the Company’s federal income tax return for that Plan year.

     The Plan has a retirement feature for eligible participants, whereby the Company makes contributions to the Plan on behalf of such participants at a rate of $0.70 and $0.65 for each hour that an active participant is paid compensation in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Participant contributions under the retirement feature of the Plan are not permitted. Investment programs and transfer and exchange privileges available under the retirement feature are the same as for the savings feature under the Plan.

     Forfeited Company contributions, which are insignificant in amount, are used to reduce future employer retirement contributions or to pay Plan administrative expenses.

Participant Accounts

     Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions and allocations of (a) the Company’s contributions and (b) Plan net earnings. Allocations are based on participant earnings and/or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the balance in the participant’s vested account.

Vesting

     Participants are fully vested at all times in participant contributions. Employer matching contributions and related earnings and employer retirement contributions and related earnings are fully vested after three years of service.

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

1. Description of the Plan (continued)

Participant Loans

     Participants may borrow a minimum of $1,000 or up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their account balance. Participants may have up to two loans outstanding at any time, although only one loan may be for a primary residence, the sum of which may not exceed the maximum allowable under the Plan. Repayment terms of the loans are generally limited to no longer than 60 months from inception or for a reasonable period of time in excess of 60 months for the purchase of a principal residence, as fixed by the Company’s Pension Investment Committee. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at rates established by the Company’s Pension Investment Committee, which approximate rates charged by commercial lending institutions for comparable loans. Interest rates on loans outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 2009 ranged between 4.25% and 9.25%, respectively. Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions.

Payment of Benefits

     On termination of service, death, disability or retirement, a participant may receive a qualified joint and survivor annuity, a direct rollover or a lump-sum amount equal to his or her vested account. When a participant attains age 59¹/2 while still an employee, he or she can elect to withdraw a specified portion of his or her vested account balance without incurring an income tax penalty. Also, in certain cases of financial hardship, a participant may elect to withdraw up to a specified portion of his or her vested account balance, regardless of age. All plan withdrawals and distributions require spousal consent.

Administrative Expenses

     The expenses of administering the Plan are payable from the trust funds, unless the Company elects to pay such expenses. From inception of the Plan to the present, the Company has elected to pay such expenses directly.

Plan Termination

     The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). While the Company has not expressed any intent to terminate the Plan, it is free to do so at any time subject to the provisions of ERISA and applicable labor agreements. In the event of Plan termination, each participant’s account would become fully vested and each participant will receive the value of his or her separate vested account.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Financial Statements and Presentation Format

     The accompanying financial statements are unaudited because the number of participants in the Plan is fewer than the number of participants which would require audited financial statements under ERISA. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). At December 31, 2010 and 2009, there were no outstanding liabilities for amounts owed to withdrawing participants. Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made to conform to the current presentation as related to the classification of notes receivable from participants. See Note 8.

Use of Estimates

     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires Plan management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Notes Receivable from Participants

     Notes receivable from participants represent participant loans that are recorded at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when it is earned. Related fees are paid from participants’ accounts. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2010 or 2009. If a participant ceases to make loan repayments and the plan administrator deems the participant loan to be a distribution, the participant loan balance is reduced and a benefit payment is recorded.

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Master Trust

     Effective April 1, 2009, AMETEK entered into the AMETEK, Inc. Master Trust (“Master Trust”) agreement with the Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (“Trustee”). Under the Master Trust agreement, the AMETEK Stock Fund of certain employee savings plans of AMETEK are combined. Participating plans purchase units of participation in the AMETEK Stock Fund based on their contributions to such fund along with income that the fund may earn, less distributions made to the plans’ participants.

     The Plan’s interest in the assets of the Master Trust was less than one percent at both December 31, 2010 and 2009. The value of the assets held by the Master Trust was $54,855,739 and $36,130,454 at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

     A summary of the investment income for the assets held by the Master Trust was as follows:

		Year Ended				April 1, 2009 to
		December 31, 2010				December 31, 2009
Net appreciation in fair value of investment		$	19,288,304			$	6,721,141
Interest and dividend income on investment			153,872				113,957
Total investment income		$	19,442,176			$	6,835,098

Risks and Uncertainties

     The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market fluctuation and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of assets available for benefits.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

     Investments held by the Plan are stated at fair value. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. See Note 4.

     Investments in shares of registered investment companies are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset values of shares held by the Plan at year end. Money market and short-term investments are carried at the fair value established by the issuer and/or the trustee. The AMETEK Stock Fund is valued at its year end unit closing price.

     The Plan invests in investment contracts through a common collective trust (Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust). The statements of assets available for benefits present the fair value of the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust and the adjustment from fair value to contract value. The fair value of the Plan’s interest in the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust is based on information reported by the issuer of the common collective trust at year end. The contract value of the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust represents contributions plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses.

     Purchases and sales of investments are reflected on trade dates. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are based on the average cost of such investments. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income from other investments is recorded as earned.

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

3. Investment Programs

     At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company was the Trustee and a party-in-interest to the Plan.

     A participant may direct contributions (up to certain specified limits) in any of the following investment options:

	•		AMETEK Stock Fund
	•		Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust
	•		Registered investment companies:

	•		Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund*
	•		Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds
	•		Vanguard Wellington Fund
	•		Vanguard Windsor II Fund**
	•		Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund**
	•		Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund**
	•		Vanguard 500 Index Fund**
	•		Artio International Equity Fund
	•		BlackRock Small Cap Growth Equity Portfolio Fund**
	•		BlackRock Inflation Protected Bond Fund*
	•		Keeley Small Cap Value**

     Participants may change their investment options or transfer existing account balances to other investment options daily.

     The fair values of individual investments that represent five percent or more of the Plan’s assets are as follows:

		December 31,
		2010				2009
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust (stated at contract value)		$	368,410			$	353,167
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund			286,603				239,780
Vanguard 500 Index Fund			205,024				164,859
Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund			171,653				128,890
Vanguard Wellington Fund			152,782				136,720
Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund*			—				89,721
Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund*			—				76,203

     During 2010 and 2009, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought, sold, as well as, held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in value, as follows:

		December 31,
		2010				2009
Common stock		$	—			$	7,022
Registered investment companies			103,738				130,705
		$	103,738			$	137,727

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

4. Fair Value Measurements

     The Plan utilizes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to the valuations used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Plan’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

     The AMETEK Stock Fund held by the Master Trust is considered a level 2 investment within the fair value hierarchy.

     The following tables sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s assets at fair value:

		December 31, 2010
		Total				Level 1				Level 2
Vanguard Prime Money Market		$	16,232			$	16,232			$	—
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund(1)			286,603				286,603				—
Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds(2)			360,676				360,676				—
Vanguard Wellington Fund(3)			152,782				152,782				—
Mutual Funds — Domestic Equities			366,274				366,274				—
Artio International Equity Fund			50,694				50,694				—
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust(4)			383,515				—				383,515
Total Investments (excluding Master Trust) at Fair Value		$	1,616,776			$	1,233,261			$	383,515

		December 31, 2009
		Total				Level 1				Level 2
Vanguard Prime Money Market		$	9,771			$	9,771			$	—
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund(1)			239,780				239,780				—
Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds(2)			294,814				294,814				—
Vanguard Wellington Fund(3)			136,720				136,720				—
Mutual Funds — Domestic Equities			295,858				295,858				—
Artio International Equity Fund			46,092				46,092				—
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust(4)			360,972				—				360,972
Total Investments (excluding Master Trust) at Fair Value		$	1,384,007			$	1,023,035			$	360,972

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

5. Income Tax Status

     The Plan has received a determination letter from the IRS dated June 10, 2010, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this determination by the IRS, the Plan was amended and restated. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The Plan Sponsor believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and therefore believes the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.

     U.S. GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate uncertain tax positions taken by the Plan. The financial statement effects of a tax position are recognized when the position is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, to be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan Sponsor has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that as of December 31, 2010, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken. The Plan has recognized no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan Sponsor believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2007.

6. Differences Between Financial Statements and Form 5500

     The following is a reconciliation of assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Plan’s Form 5500:

		December 31,
		2010				2009
Assets available for benefits per the financial statements		$	2,363,013			$	1,901,191
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for Common Collective Trust			15,105				7,805
Assets available for benefits per Form 5500		$	2,378,118			$	1,908,996

     The following is a reconciliation of total additions per the financial statements to total income per the Plan’s Form 5500 for the year ended December 31, 2010:

Total additions per the financial statements		$	511,223
Add: Adjustment from contract value to fair value for Common Collective Trust at December 31, 2010			15,105
Less: Adjustment from contract value to fair value for Common Collective Trust at December 31, 2009			(7,805	)
Total income per Form 5500		$	518,523

7. Plan Amendments

     Effective January 1, 2010, the Company will contribute to the Plan as follows:

	•		Effective January 1, 2010, the Company’s contribution will be increased by $0.05 per hour to $0.70 per hour worked.
	•		Effective January 1, 2011, the Company’s contribution will be increased by $0.05 per hour to $0.75 per hour worked.

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

     In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASU 2010-06”). ASU 2010-06 provides amendments that clarify existing disclosures and require new disclosures related to fair value measurements, providing greater disaggregated information on each class of assets and liabilities and more robust disclosures on transfers between levels 1 and 2, and activity in level 3 fair value measurements. The Plan adopted the applicable provisions within ASU 2010-06 effective January 1, 2010. See Note 4. The Plan is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the level 3 disclosures of ASU 2010-06 that are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years.

     In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-09, Subsequent Events (“ASU 2010-09”). ASU 2010-09 removes the requirement for a Securities and Exchange Commission filer to disclose a date in both the issued and revised financial statements for which the Company evaluated events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. ASU 2010-09 was effective as of February 2010.

     In September 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-25, Reporting Loans to Participants by Defined Contribution Pension Plans (“ASU 2010-25”). ASU 2010-25 provides guidance clarifying the classification and measurement of participant loans by defined contribution plans. Participant loans are required to be classified as notes receivable from participants and measured at their unpaid principal balance, plus accrued but unpaid interest. The Plan adopted ASU 2010-25 effective December 31, 2010. Prior year amounts and disclosures have been revised to reflect the retrospective application of ASU 2010-25. The adoption of ASU 2010-25 resulted in a reclassification of participant loans totaling $131,551 from investments to notes receivable from participants on the Plan’s Statement of Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2009. There was no impact to the Plan’s net assets as of December 31, 2010 or 2009 as a result of the adoption of ASU 2010-25.

     In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 amendments result in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”). The amendments are to be applied prospectively and are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Plan is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2011-04 on the Plan’s financial statements.

Solidstate Controls, Inc. Hourly Employees’ (CWA) Retirement Plan
EIN 14—1682544 Plan #050
Schedule H, Line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

		Description of investment, including
		maturity date, rate of interest,				Current
Identity of issue, borrower, lessor or similar party		collateral, par, or maturity value				Value
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust*		Common/Collective Trust				$	383,515
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund*		Registered Investment Company					286,603
Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund*		Registered Investment Company					97,252
Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund*		Registered Investment Company					171,653
Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund*		Registered Investment Company					91,771
Vanguard Wellington Fund*		Registered Investment Company					152,782
Vanguard Windsor II Fund*		Registered Investment Company					42,921
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund*		Registered Investment Company					67,704
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund*		Registered Investment Company					26,272
Vanguard 500 Index Fund*		Registered Investment Company					205,024
Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund*		Registered Investment Company					16,232
Artio International Equity Fund*		Registered Investment Company					50,694
BlackRock Small Cap Growth Equity Portfolio Fund*		Registered Investment Company					15,477
Keeley Small Cap Value*		Registered Investment Company					8,876
		Total investments					1,616,776
Notes Receivable from Participants*		Interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 9.25%					203,547
						$	1,820,323

Historical cost column is not included as all investments are participant—directed.

Signatures

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Members of the Pension Investment Committee have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.