<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 SEPTEMBER 27, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-27-1997 <CASH> 109,646 <SECURITIES> 29,492 <RECEIVABLES> 51,539 <ALLOWANCES> 2,345 <INVENTORY> 30,998 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 235,424 <PP&E> 58,848 <DEPRECIATION> 31,196 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 410,380 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 67,600 <BONDS> 153,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 633 <OTHER-SE> 133,502 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 410,380 <SALES> 166,784 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 166,784 <CGS> 100,522 <TOTAL-COSTS> 100,522 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,652 <LOSS-PROVISION> 147 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,961 <INCOME-PRETAX> 19,078 <INCOME-TAX> 7,425 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,813 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,813 <EPS-PRIMARY> .18 <EPS-DILUTED> .17