<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 29, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-29-1997 <CASH> 108,697 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 33,104 <ALLOWANCES> 1,863 <INVENTORY> 24,022 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 179,594 <PP&E> 56,076 <DEPRECIATION> 30,538 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 252,587 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 63,078 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 612 <OTHER-SE> 129,290 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 252,587 <SALES> 44,667 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 44,667 <CGS> 25,536 <TOTAL-COSTS> 25,536 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,276 <LOSS-PROVISION> 15 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 156 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,161 <INCOME-TAX> 2,317 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,460 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,460 <EPS-PRIMARY> .06 <EPS-DILUTED> .06