<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 JUNE 29, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-28-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-29-1996 <CASH> 51,702 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 36,396 <ALLOWANCES> 1,953 <INVENTORY> 26,388 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 124,511 <PP&E> 49,068 <DEPRECIATION> 28,890 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 185,998 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 50,075 <BONDS> 36 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 611 <OTHER-SE> 116,840 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 185,998 <SALES> 97,575 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 97,575 <CGS> 56,296 <TOTAL-COSTS> 56,296 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,825 <LOSS-PROVISION> (539) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 330 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,630 <INCOME-TAX> 6,519 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,082 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,082 <EPS-PRIMARY> .17 <EPS-DILUTED> .16