<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  OF LADISH  CO.,  INC.  AS OF AND FOR THE 12
MONTHS ENDED  DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         5,517
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  35,709
<ALLOWANCES>                                   300
<INVENTORY>                                    41,967
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               83,169
<PP&E>                                         136,952
<DEPRECIATION>                                 50,981
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 173,877
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          43,120
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       140
<OTHER-SE>                                     68,646
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   173,877
<SALES>                                        226,767
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               226,767
<CGS>                                          194,125   
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  8,085     
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0         
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0         
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,256     
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                23,747    
<INCOME-TAX>                                   2,375     
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            21,372    
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0         
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0         
<CHANGES>                                      0         
<NET-INCOME>                                   21,372    
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.76     
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.55