<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM INNOVATIVE VALVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 2,544,450 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 18,760,554 <ALLOWANCES> 1,079,857 <INVENTORY> 15,987,765 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 41,107,450 <PP&E> 26,645,820 <DEPRECIATION> 15,171,119 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 105,432,683 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 19,875,872 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,890 <OTHER-SE> 59,861,415 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 105,432,683 <SALES> 58,620,946 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 58,620,946 <CGS> 39,820,941 <TOTAL-COSTS> 64,239,636 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,957 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,901,039 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,522,686 <INCOME-TAX> 1,022,722 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,499,964 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 0 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0