<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 OCTOBER 2, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> OCT-02-1999 <CASH> 40,743 <SECURITIES> 46,246 <RECEIVABLES> 44,932 <ALLOWANCES> 2,021 <INVENTORY> 29,089 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 260,000 <PP&E> 65,937 <DEPRECIATION> 36,763 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 425,733 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 105,040 <BONDS> 154,350 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 635 <OTHER-SE> 159,097 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 425,733 <SALES> 166,847 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 166,847 <CGS> 99,449 <TOTAL-COSTS> 99,449 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (411) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,571 <INCOME-PRETAX> 22,100 <INCOME-TAX> 8,548 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,807 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,807 <EPS-BASIC> 0.21 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.21