<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000906873 <NAME> ASAHI/AMERICA, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.0 <CASH> 916 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 4,476 <ALLOWANCES> 263 <INVENTORY> 9,336 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 15,076 <PP&E> 16,016 <DEPRECIATION> 4,262 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 32,049 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,307 <BONDS> 4,662 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,603 <OTHER-SE> 4,997 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 32,049 <SALES> 37,934 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 37,934 <CGS> 23,828 <TOTAL-COSTS> 23,828 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,834 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 201 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,072 <INCOME-TAX> 1,290 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,782 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.53 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.53