<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 28, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-28-1997 <CASH> 96,405 <SECURITIES> 10,009 <RECEIVABLES> 60,396 <ALLOWANCES> 2,819 <INVENTORY> 34,299 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 209,888 <PP&E> 60,288 <DEPRECIATION> 31,589 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 383,111 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 80,781 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 613 <OTHER-SE> 131,731 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 383,111 <SALES> 99,178 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 99,178 <CGS> 58,186 <TOTAL-COSTS> 58,186 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,863 <LOSS-PROVISION> (7) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 941 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,809 <INCOME-TAX> 4,930 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,219 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,219 <EPS-PRIMARY> .12 <EPS-DILUTED> .11