<ARTICLE>                              5
<LEGEND>                               THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                                       INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR
                                       THE QUARTER  ENDED AUGUST 30, 1998 AND IS
                                       QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
                                       SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                  0000090045
<NAME>                                 SI HANDLING SYSTEMS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                           1,000
       
                                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             FEB-28-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                  AUG-30-1998
<CASH>                                                        2,899
<SECURITIES>                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                 5,103
<ALLOWANCES>                                                  0
<INVENTORY>                                                   2,621
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              16,878
<PP&E>                                                        7,832
<DEPRECIATION>                                                6,332
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                19,638
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         7,504
<BONDS>                                                       21
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                      3,729
<OTHER-SE>                                                    8,175
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                  19,638
<SALES>                                                       18,742
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              18,742
<CGS>                                                         14,149
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                 14,149
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            4
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                               1,243
<INCOME-TAX>                                                  478
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                           765
<DISCONTINUED>                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                  765
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 .21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 .20