<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, 1998 </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 0 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 31,196,271 <ALLOWANCES> 1,562,104 <INVENTORY> 26,007,804 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 62,490,098 <PP&E> 39,397,350 <DEPRECIATION> 19,927,546 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 183,699,838 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 19,944,727 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,665 <OTHER-SE> 79,195,379 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 183,699,838 <SALES> 154,616,945 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 154,616,945 <CGS> 107,568,111 <TOTAL-COSTS> 107,568,111 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,189,599 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,621,182 <INCOME-PRETAX> (995,037) <INCOME-TAX> 419,936 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,414,973) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,414,973) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.16) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.16)