<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000090045 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <NAME> PARAGON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 777 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 10,684 <ALLOWANCES> 55 <INVENTORY> 3,950 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 20,040 <PP&E> 10,237 <DEPRECIATION> 6,938 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 43,615 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 14,081 <BONDS> 15,138 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,185 <OTHER-SE> 10,012 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 43,615 <SALES> 18,344 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 18,344 <CGS> 13,912 <TOTAL-COSTS> 13,912 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 421 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,289 <INCOME-TAX> 517 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 772 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 772 <EPS-BASIC> .18 <EPS-DILUTED> .17