<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO FIBERTEK INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 30,1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-28-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-30-1996 <CASH> 53,898 <SECURITIES> 1,506 <RECEIVABLES> 38,633 <ALLOWANCES> 2,541 <INVENTORY> 27,225 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 131,666 <PP&E> 49,510 <DEPRECIATION> 28,865 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 187,651 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 55,435 <BONDS> 15,038 <COMMON> 407 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 113,257 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 187,651 <SALES> 48,980 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 48,980 <CGS> 28,192 <TOTAL-COSTS> 28,192 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,273 <LOSS-PROVISION> 42 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 172 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,611 <INCOME-TAX> 3,399 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,206 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,206 <EPS-PRIMARY> .13 <EPS-DILUTED> .12