<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO FIBERTEK INC.'S REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-03-1998 <CASH> 108,349 <SECURITIES> 43,346 <RECEIVABLES> 47,294 <ALLOWANCES> 2,222 <INVENTORY> 31,686 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 243,169 <PP&E> 67,407 <DEPRECIATION> 35,742 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 417,570 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 58,580 <BONDS> 153,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 634 <OTHER-SE> 147,310 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 417,570 <SALES> 185,591 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 185,591 <CGS> 110,218 <TOTAL-COSTS> 110,218 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,378 <LOSS-PROVISION> 112 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,562 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,689 <INCOME-TAX> 9,183 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 13,736 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 13,736 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.22 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.22