<PAGE>   1

                                  FORM 10-K

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549


                         ----------------------------




(X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED)

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
                          ---------------------------------------------
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-15582
                       ------------------------------------------------

                        MINUTEMAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION)


             ILLINOIS                                           36-2262931
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                         IDENTIFICATION NO.)


111 SOUTH ROHLWING ROAD, ADDISON, ILLINOIS                   60101
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  630-627-6900
                                                  ------------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common stock, no par value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (TITLE OF EACH CLASS)
                             -------------------

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 of 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.  X  Yes    No
                                           -       -


<PAGE>   2


     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to
the best of registrant's knowledge in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K.

     The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the registrant as of March 2, 1998:

Common stock, no par value, $7,935,000

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's class of common stock as of
March 2, 1998:

Common stock, no par value,  3,568,385 shares


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     Portions of the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1997, are
incorporated by reference into Parts I and II.

     Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Shareholders Meeting to be
held April 28, 1998, are incorporated by reference into Part III.






















                                      2



<PAGE>   3

PART I

Item 1.  BUSINESS


General Development of Business

Minuteman International, Inc. an Illinois corporation incorporated in 1951 as
American Cleaning Equipment Corporation, manufactures and distributes one of
the most complete lines of commercial and industrial vacuums,  floor and carpet
care, chemical cleaning and coating products and complementary accessories in
the United States and Canada.  Its products are exported to countries around
the world.

Products

The Company's product line consists of hard surface floor care equipment,
carpet care and maintenance products, sweepers, scrubbers, commercial and
industrial specialized vacuums, and complementary accessories.  Included in the
specialized vacuum area are the hazardous location/explosive environment
vacuums and the clean/room nuclear vacuums.

Multi-Clean, the chemical division of Minuteman International, Inc. formulates,
manufactures and distributes over 65 chemical cleaning and floor coating
products including multi-surface cleaners and degreasers, finishes and waxes,
carpet care products, concrete and wood coatings and finishes, plus a full
array of specialized chemicals.

Parker Sweeper Company, acquired in 1992, manufactures a full line of litter
vacuums as well as an extensive array of lawn and turf debris handling
equipment.  Effective December 30, 1994, Parker Sweeper Company, formerly a
wholly-owned subsidiary, was merged into the Company and operates as a
division.

Additional information pertaining to new products is incorporated herein by
reference  on pages 4 through 15 of the 1997 Annual Report for the year ended
December 31, 1997.


Marketing and Distribution

The Company manufactures and distributes its products throughout the world.
The distribution process in the United States is primarily through the more
than 300 active dealers and its two sales branches.  The Company distributes
its products in Canada through Minuteman Canada, Inc. a wholly-owned
subsidiary.  The Company sells its products to Hako-Werke subsidiaries in
Japan, Australia and certain European countries.  Export of other products is
conducted through the headquarter office in Addison, Illinois. Sales to
affiliated and unaffiliated customers in foreign countries aggregated to
$12,062,000, $11,173,000 and $11,063,000 in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.



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<PAGE>   4

The Company's equipment is sold under Minuteman International, Minuteman and    
Parker Sweeper trade names.  The chemical cleaning and coating products are
manufactured by Minuteman International, Inc. and sold under Multi-Clean trade
name.  Substantially all of the Company's commercial equipment is manufactured
at its Illinois production facilities in Addison and Hampshire.  All of the
Company's industrial equipment is imported from Germany.  All of the Company's
chemical cleaning and coating products are produced at its Shoreview, Minnesota
facility.

The manufacture, production and demand for the Company's products and services
are not considered to be seasonal in nature.  No part of the Company business
depends on any one single customer, the loss of which would adversely affect
the Company.  The Company does not believe any material portion of its business
to be subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts at the
election of the Government.


Raw Materials

The Company purchases castings, electric motors, cord sets, switches, brushes,
wheels, injection molded plastics, sheet steel, paint pigment, chemicals and
other raw materials from a number of suppliers.  The Company considers its
ability to obtain raw materials and supplies to be readily available.  It does
not believe that the loss of any supplier would adversely affect the Company's
business.


Competition

Minuteman International, Inc. competes with many regional, national and
international manufacturers throughout the industry.  These competitive markets
include industrial and plant maintenance, sanitation supply, critical filter,
floor coating and chemical fields.  The principal competitive factors within
each of these markets are product quality, reliability, service and fair price.
The Company believes it will continue to compete effectively in the
marketplace and continue its sales growth in the future.


Patents and Trademarks

Currently, the Company has 19 United States and 23 international patents.       
Although the Company generally seeks to obtain patents where appropriate, it
does not consider the successful conduct of its business in general to be
dependent on any of its patents or patent applications.  By agreement dated
March 1, 1994, with Hako-Werke, the Company agreed to discontinue the use of
the "Hako"  trademark on any products intended for sale in any country.  It was
further agreed that the Company and Hako-Werke would be free to market and
distribute each of their products throughout the world.

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<PAGE>   5

Minuteman International, Inc. is owner of the United States and Canadian
registrations for the Multi-Clean and Parker Sweeper trade names.  The
Minuteman trademark is registered in the United States and Canada.  The Parker
trademark is registered in the United States and Canada.

Working Capital

The Company had working capital of $19.9 million at December 31, 1997. Cash,
cash equivalents and short term investments represented 3.6% of the working
capital which when not in use, is invested in bank certificates of deposit,
Eurodollar certificate investments, a managed portfolio of high quality,
variable rate notes and tax exempt seven day bonds.

Backlog

The Company's backlog of orders was approximately $2.6 million at December 31,
1997 and $3.1 million at December 31, 1996.  The Company anticipates that
substantially all of the 1997 backlog will be delivered during 1998.  In the
opinion of Management, fluctuations in the amount of its backlog are not
necessarily indicative of intermediate or long-term trends in the Company's
business.

Research and Development

The Company expended approximately $1,102,000 $1,146,000 and $1,085,000 in
research  and development activities during 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

Employees

The Company has 268 full time employees.  The facilities in Addison, Illinois
and Shoreview, Minnesota, have approximately 113 hourly paid employees who are
covered by local collective bargaining agreements.  These agreements expire in
May 1998 and October 1998, respectively.  The Company believes that the current
employee relations are excellent.  The Company plans to hire additional
employees during 1998 as are justified by the needs of the business.

Environmental Matters

The Company's operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws
and regulations regarding the environmental aspects of the manufacture and
distribution of chemical components.  The Company believes that it is currently
in compliance in all material respects with the environmental laws and
regulations affecting its operations. Capital expenditures for the purpose of
environmental protection are not expected to be material in amount for 1998 or
thereafter.


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<PAGE>   6

Item 2. PROPERTIES

The Company owns or leases the following properties in its operations:
                                                                                

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                                                Owned
Location             Size   (sq. ft.)       Use                        or Leased
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>                     <C>                         <C>
Addison, IL         112,230 (Bldg.)         Office, manufacturing,           
                    254,300 (Land)          Warehouse, sales, service    Owned
                                                                              
Villa Park, IL        6,135 (Bldg.)         Warehouse, sales service     Leased
                                                                               
Hampshire, IL       100,000 (Bldg.)         Manufacturing, warehouse          
                    871,200 (Land)                                       Owned
                                                                              
Shoreview, MN        34,952 (Bldg.)         Office, manufacturing,            
                    133,830 (Land)          Warehouse, sales, service    Owned
                                                                              
Glendale, CA          7,320 (Bldg.)         Building held for sale            
                     15,000 (Land)                                       Owned
                                                                              
Nieuw-Vennep          9,957 (Bldg.)         Warehouse, sales, service    Leased
The Netherlands                             
                                            
Mississauga,         18,486 (Bldg.)         Warehouse, sales, service    Leased
Ontario, Canada
</TABLE>


Approximately 90% of the Company's Addison and Hampshire, Illinois facilities
and 85% of the Company's Shoreview, Minnesota facility are devoted to
manufacturing.

In October, 1993, the Company purchased 20 acres of vacant land in Hampshire,
Illinois.  In July of 1994, a 50,000 square foot facility was completed and was
fully operational in December 1994 when manufacturing of Parker Sweeper
products were relocated from the former Springfield, Ohio location.  In August
of 1995, a 50,000 square foot addition to this facility was completed.  This
property provides the Company with the ability to expand services to meet
future business needs.

The Villa Park, Illinois lease term expires December 31, 2000.  The
Nieuw-Vennep Netherlands lease term expires January 31, 2003. The Mississauga,
Ontario lease term expires on November 30, 2002.  The Company believes that
failure to obtain the renewal of any lease would  not have a material adverse
effect on its business.



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<PAGE>   7

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is a party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary
course of its business.  The outcome of these matters will not, in the opinion
of Management, have a material adverse effect on the business or financial
condition of the Company.

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the
Company did not submit any matter to a vote of shareholders through the
solicitation of proxies or otherwise.

Part II

Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

Common stock market prices and dividends on page 23 of the Annual Report for
the year ended December 31, 1997, are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The Selected Consolidated Financial Data on page 23 and the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 20 through 22 of the Annual Report
for the year ended December 31, 1997, are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND 
           FINANCIAL CONDITION

"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition" on pages 16 and 17 of the Annual Report for the year ended December
31, 1997, are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The Consolidated Financial Statements included on pages 17 through 19 and the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 20 through 22 of the Annual
Report for the year ended December 31, 1997, are incorporated herein by
reference.

Quarterly Results of Operations on page 22 of the Annual Report for the year
ended December 31, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference.


                                      7



<PAGE>   8

Item 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND 
           FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

There have been no changes in or disagreements with the Company's auditors on
accounting and financial disclosure.

Part III

Item 10. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

The information contained on pages 2 through 5 of Minuteman International,
Inc.'s Proxy Statement dated March 16, 1998, with respect to directors and
executive officers of the Company is incorporated herein by reference in
response to this item.

Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information contained on pages 5 and 6 of Minuteman International Inc.'s
Proxy Statement dated March 16, 1998, with respect to Executive Compensation
and transactions, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this item.


Item 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The information contained on page 2 of Minuteman International Inc.'s Proxy
Statement dated March 16, 1998, with respect to security ownership of certain
beneficial owners and management, is incorporated herein by reference in
response to this item.

Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The information contained on pages 2 through 7 of Minuteman International
Inc.'s Proxy Statement dated March 16, 1998, with respect to certain
relationships and related transactions, are incorporated herein by reference in
response to this item.

Part IV.

Item 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K


(a) (1. and 2.)  Financial Statements

     The financial statements listed in the accompanying index to financial
     statements are filed herewith.


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<PAGE>   9

(a) (3) and (c) Exhibits

         The Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and filed
         herewith are listed in the Exhibit Index which follows the financial
         statements and immediately precedes the exhibits filed.

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

     No Reports on Form 8-K were filed in the fourth quarter of 1997;

(d) Financial Statement Schedule

     The financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index
     to financial statements is filed herewith.































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<PAGE>   10

                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                        Minuteman International, Inc.
                                        -----------------------------
                                               (Registrant)



Date:  March 16, 1998                   By:
                                           ----------------------------
                                           Jerome E. Rau, President and
                                           Chief Executive Officer


                                        By:
                                           ----------------------------
                                           Thomas J. Nolan,
                                           Chief Financial Officer,
                                           Secretary and Treasurer


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.



-----------------------------------
Jerome E. Rau
President, Chief Executive Officer,
and Director



-----------------------------------
Tyll Necker, Director



-----------------------------------
Frederick W. Hohage, Director



-----------------------------------
Frank Reynolds, Director



-----------------------------------
James C. Schrader, Jr. Director




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<PAGE>   11


                          ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

                     ITEM 14(a) (1) AND (2), (c) and (d)

        LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE

                               CERTAIN EXHIBITS

                         FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

                         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

                        MINUTEMAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                              ADDISON, ILLINOIS

                                      




























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<PAGE>   12

                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


Shareholders and Board of Directors
Minuteman International, Inc.



We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Minuteman
International, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the
related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997.  Our audits
also include the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item
14(a).  These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the
Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
Minuteman International, Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 1997 and 1996,
and consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.  Also, in our opinion, the related
financial statements schedule, when considered in relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects
the information set forth therein.






                                                  Ernst & Young LLP 
                                                  Chicago, Illinois 
                                                  February 11, 1998 


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<PAGE>   13

ITEM 14(a) (1) AND (2)

LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

MINUTEMAN INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

December 31, 1997

The following consolidated financial statements of Minuteman International,
Inc. and subsidiaries, included in the Annual Report of the Registrant to its
shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1997, are incorporated by
reference in Item 8:


     Consolidated Balance Sheets -  December 31, 1997
       and 1996


     Consolidated Statements of Income - Years ended
       December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

     Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity -
       Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
       Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following consolidated financial statement schedule of Minuteman
International, Inc. and subsidiaries are included in Item 14(d):

     Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts                     14

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting
regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the
related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.









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<PAGE>   14


                SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

                MINUTEMAN INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                       

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          COL. A                COL. B               COL. C           COL. D           COL. E
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Additions                            Deductions
                                                           ---------------------                      ----------

                                                                                     Charged to
                                          Balance at            Charged to           Other                             Balance
                                          Beginning of          Costs and            Accounts -                        at End of
Description                               Period                Expenses             Describe         Describe(1)      Period
-----------                               ------------          ----------           ----------       -----------      ---------
<S>                                       <C>                   <C>                  <C>               <C>             <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1997
Reserves and allowances deducted from
asset accounts:
 Allowance for uncollectible accounts      $351,000               98,000               ------           121,000         $328,000

Year Ended December 31, 1996
Reserves and allowances deducted from
asset accounts:
 Allowance for uncollectible accounts      $372,000              104,000               ------           125,000         $351,000

Year Ended December 31, 1995
Reserves and allowances deducted from
asset accounts:
 Allowance for uncollectible accounts      $400,000               66,000               ------            94,000         $372,000
</TABLE>



Note 1 --Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.

















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<PAGE>   15

                        MINUTEMAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                EXHIBIT INDEX

                  (Pursuant to Item 601 of Regulations S-K)


NO.   DESCRIPTION AND PAGE OR INCORPORATION REFERENCE

      Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws

3(a)  Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to
      Exhibit 3 (a) of the Registrant's Form S-18 Registration Statement,
      Registration Number 33-11858).

3(b)  By-laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 (b) of the
      Registrant's Form S-18 Registration Statement, Registration Number
      33-11858).

      Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders,
      Including Indentures

4(a)  Specimen Certificate for Common Stock, no par value (incorporated
      herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of the Registrant's For S-18 Registration
      Statement, Registration Number 33-11858).

      Material Contracts

10(a) Employment Agreement dated as of January 20, 1987, between the
      Company and Jerome E. Rau (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10
      (a) of the Registrant's Form S-18 Registration Statement, Registration
      Number 33-11858).

10(b) Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of February 27, 1990,
      between the Company and Jerome E. Rau (incorporated herein by reference to
      Exhibit 10 (h) at Page 20 of Form 10K Annual Report for fiscal year ended
      December 31, 1989).

10(c) Specimen form of Employment Agreement between the Company and its
      executive officers (with the exception of the president) (incorporated
      herein by reference to Exhibit 10 (c) at Page 18 of Form 10K Annual Report
      for fiscal year ended December 31, 1991).

10(d) Employment Agreement dated as of March 22, 1990, between the Company
      and Michael Gravelle (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 (d)
      at Page 22 of Form 10K Annual Report for fiscal year ended December 31,
      1991).


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<PAGE>   16

10(e) Agreement dated as of February 9, 1987, with respect to trademark between
      the Company and Hako-Werke International GmbH (incorporated herein by 
      reference to Exhibit 10 (c) of the Registrant's Form S-18 Registration
      Statement, Registration Number 33-11858).

10(f) Agreement dated March 1, 1994 with respect to worldwide distribution/
      marketing and trademarks between the Company and Hako-Werke International
      GmbH.  Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 (f) at Page 18 of 
      Form 10-K Annual Report for fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.

11    Statement re. Computation of Per Share Earnings
      
      Statement re. computation of per share earnings.  See Note B of the
      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on Page 20 of the Annual
      Report for the year ended December 31, 1997 (incorporated herein by
      reference).

13    Annual Report to Security Holders

      The Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December
      31, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference.

      Subsidiaries of the Registrant

22(a) Subsidiaries of the Registrant
      (included herein at Page 17).

-------------------------------------------------------------







Minuteman International, Inc. will furnish any of the aforementioned exhibits
indicated above to requesting security holders upon written request.









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