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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000729057-99-000280.txt : 19990202
<SEC-HEADER>0000729057-99-000280.hdr.sgml : 19990202
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000729057-99-000280
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	SC 13G
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		19990201

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HURCO COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000315374
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823]
		IRS NUMBER:				351150732
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	005-31650
		FILM NUMBER:		99518262

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TECHNOLOGY WAY
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46268
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3172935390

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HURCO MANUFACTURING CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850324

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE CO OF AMERICA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000729057
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				221211670
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PRUDENTIAL PLZ
		STREET 2:		751 BROAD STREET
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07102-3777
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9738024284

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		751 BROAD STREET
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>SC 13G
<SEQUENCE>1
<TEXT>



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington,  D.C.    20549

SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Name of
Issuer:       HURCO COMPANIES INC
________________________________________________

Title of Class
of Securities:  Common Stock

CUSIP Number:    447324104

1)  NAME OF I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF REPORTING PERSON

	The Prudential Insurance Company of America     22-1211670

2.) MEMBER OF A GROUP:   (a)  N/A
                                                          (b)  N/A

3)  SEC USE ONLY:



4)  PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: 	 A mutual insurance company organized
                under the laws of the State of New Jersey

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY REPORTING PERSON WITH:

5)  Sole Voting Power:		489,364	See Exhibit A
6)  Shared Voting Power			Not Applicable
7)  Sole Dispositive Power:		489,364	See Exhibit A
8)  Shared Dispositive Power:			Not Applicable

9)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED:
			489,364	See Exhibit A

10)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES SHARES:	Not Applicable

11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9):
			7.42 See Exhibit A

12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:  IC, IA

ITEM 1(a).  NAME OF ISSUER:

                      HURCO COMPANIES INC

ITEM 1(b).  ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

                      HURCO COMPANIES INC
One Technology Way
PO BOX 68180
Indianapolis, IN  46268-0180

                      
ITEM 2(a).  NAME OF PERSON FILING:

	 The Prudential Insurance Company of America

ITEM 2(b).  ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:

		751 Broad Street
		Newark, New Jersey  07102-3777

ITEM 2(c).  CITIZENSHIP:

      		A mutual insurance company organized under the laws of the
		State of New Jersey

ITEM 2(d).  TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:

		Common Stock

ITEM 2(e).  CUSIP NUMBER:

			447324104

ITEM 3.	The Person filing this statement is an Insurance Company
			as defined in Section 3(a) (19) of the Securities 
Exchange
			Act of 1934, and an Investment Adviser registered under
			Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

ITEM 4.  OWNERSHIP:

		(a) Number of Shares
		     Beneficially Owned:	489,364  See Exhibit A

		(b) Percent of Class:		7.42

							Number
		(c) Powers				Of Shares
		      
- -------------------------------------	--------------------------
		     Sole power to vote or		489,364	See Exhibit A
		     to direct the vote

		     Shared power to vote or 		Not Applicable
		     to direct the vote

		     Sole power to dispose or 	489,364	See Exhibit A
		     to direct disposition

		     Shared power to dispose		Not Applicable
		     or to direct disposition

ITEM 5.  OWNERSHIP OF 5% OR LESS OF A CLASS:

		Not Applicable


ITEM 6.  OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN 5% ON BEHALF 
	  OF ANOTHER PERSON:

		See Exhibit A

ITEM 7.	IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE
	SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING
	REPORTED ON BY THE ULTIMATE PARENT COMPANY:

		Not Applicable

ITEM 8.  IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS
	 OF THE GROUP:

		Not Applicable

ITEM 9.  NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:

		Not Applicable

ITEM 10.  CERTIFICATION:

	By signing below, the Prudential Insurance Company of America
	certifies that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the
	securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course
	of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
	have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
	issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection
	with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose
	or effect.

The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that
Prudential is, for purposes of Sections 13 or 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of such shares.



				SIGNATURE

	After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and
	belief, The Prudential Insurance Company of America certifies that
	the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
	correct.


	THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA

	By:	Ellen McGlynn Koke
		Second Vice President

	Date:	02/01/99
	As of:	12/31/98


				Exhibit A
				--------------

ITEM 6.	 OWNERSHIP:

The Prudential Insurance Company of America ('Prudential') presently holds 
489,364 shares of Issuer's common stock for the benefit of its general account.

In addition, Prudential may have direct or indirect voting and/or investment 
discretion over 
 shares which are held for the benefit of its clients by its separate accounts, 
externally managed accounts, registered investment companies, subsidiaries 
and/or other affiliates.  Prudential is reporting the combined holdings of 
these entities for the purpose of administrative convenience.

These shares were acquired in the ordinary course of business, and not with the 
purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the Issuer.  The filing 
of this statement should not be construed as an admission that Prudential is, 
for the purposes of Sections 13 or 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
the beneficial owner of these shares.





</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
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