<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO FIBERTEK INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED APRIL 3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> APR-03-1999 <CASH> 128,792 <SECURITIES> 40,378 <RECEIVABLES> 46,270 <ALLOWANCES> 2,060 <INVENTORY> 30,042 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 259,218 <PP&E> 65,250 <DEPRECIATION> 35,291 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 425,950 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 58,867 <BONDS> 153,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 635 <OTHER-SE> 155,859 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 425,950 <SALES> 60,223 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 60,223 <CGS> 36,787 <TOTAL-COSTS> 36,787 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (5,898) <LOSS-PROVISION> 1 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,850 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,953 <INCOME-TAX> 5,485 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,228 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,228 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.13 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.12