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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) December 31, 2004
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                                TEREX CORPORATION
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


           Delaware                        1-10702               34-1531521
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 (State or Other Jurisdiction            (Commission            (IRS Employer
       of Incorporation)                File Number)         Identification No.)



  500 Post Road East, Suite 320, Westport, Connecticut               06880
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        (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                  (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 222-7170
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                                 NOT APPLICABLE
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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[  ] Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13e-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 8.01.  Other Events.

     Terex  Corporation  ("Terex")  issued a press  release  on January 3, 2005,
announcing  that it has  completed  its  previously  announced  purchase  of the
Reedrill  division of Metso  Corporation  on December  31,  2004.  Reedrill is a
leading  manufacturer  of  surface  drilling  equipment  for use in the  mining,
construction and utility industries.

     A copy of this press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c)  Exhibits

     99.1 Press release of Terex Corporation issued on January 3, 2005.


                                   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.


Date:  January 4, 2005


                                         TEREX CORPORATION


                                         By:  /s/ Jeffrey A. Gershowitz
                                              Jeffrey A. Gershowitz
                                              Vice President