<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF HEIN-WERNER CORPORATION 
AND THE COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE (EXHIBIT 11) AS OF AND 
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 28, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND COMPUTATION.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-28-1998
<CASH>                                           8,514
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   12,505
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,569
<INVENTORY>                                     10,128
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                31,263
<PP&E>                                           7,724
<DEPRECIATION>                                   4,814
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  35,267
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           10,704
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,909
<OTHER-SE>                                      19,345
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    35,267
<SALES>                                          8,873
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 8,873
<CGS>                                            4,510
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    8,513
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    48
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                (29)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    341
<INCOME-TAX>                                       120
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                221
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       221
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.08