<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO FIBERTEK INC.'S REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JULY 4, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUL-04-1998 <CASH> 121,093 <SECURITIES> 35,730 <RECEIVABLES> 49,757 <ALLOWANCES> 2,064 <INVENTORY> 33,911 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 249,870 <PP&E> 65,099 <DEPRECIATION> 34,581 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 422,492 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 64,434 <BONDS> 153,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 634 <OTHER-SE> 146,584 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 422,492 <SALES> 125,913 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 125,913 <CGS> 74,516 <TOTAL-COSTS> 74,516 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,624 <LOSS-PROVISION> 59 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,708 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,433 <INCOME-TAX> 6,386 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,579 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,579 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.16 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.15