<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GLASS YARNS AND SPECIALTY MATERIALS BUSINESS, A 
BUSINESS UNIT OF OWENS CORNING, FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1996 AND 
1997, AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                                                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        YEAR                    YEAR                   YEAR                    YEAR      
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998  
<PERIOD-START>                   JAN-01-1995             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1998  
<PERIOD-END>                     DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997             SEP-30-1998  
<CASH>                                     0                       0                       0                       0  
<SECURITIES>                               0                       0                       0                       0  
<RECEIVABLES>                              0                  24,798                  20,691                  35,032
<ALLOWANCES>                               0                   1,490                   1,419                   1,639  
<INVENTORY>                                0                  21,246                  19,168                  24,378  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           0                  48,992                  43,127                  59,228  
<PP&E>                                     0                 246,756                 248,537                 298,687  
<DEPRECIATION>                             0                 139,446                 142,979                 149,229  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             0                 163,839                 153,961                 445,476  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      0                  53,936                  54,999                  23,494  
<BONDS>                                    0                       0                       0                 391,250  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      0                       0                       0                       0  
<PREFERRED>                                0                       0                       0                       0  
<COMMON>                                   0                       0                       0                       0  
<OTHER-SE>                                 0                  36,850                  30,940                  15,932  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               0                 163,939                 153,961                 445,476  
<SALES>                              272,395                 274,979                 277,357                 205,348  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                     272,395                 274,979                 277,357                 205,348  
<CGS>                                187,153                 180,343                 182,366                 134,820  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                        187,153                 180,343                 182,366                 134,820  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           0                       0                       0                       0  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                           0                       0                       0                       0  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         0                       0                       0                       0  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       74,535                  83,294                  82,866                  59,235  
<INCOME-TAX>                          29,594                  33,051                  32,540                  16,226  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                   44,941                  50,243                  50,326                  43,009  
<DISCONTINUED>                             0                       0                       0                       0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            0                       0                       0                       0  
<CHANGES>                                  0                       0                       0                       0  
<NET-INCOME>                          44,941                  50,243                  50,326                  43,009  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                              0                       0                       0                       0  
<EPS-DILUTED>                              0                       0                       0                       0