<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM SEC
FORM 10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                      0001005229
<NAME>                  COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 APR-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   Oct-03-1999
<CASH>                                              20,071
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      132,762
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                        114,001
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   300,580
<PP&E>                                             138,517
<DEPRECIATION>                                      48,458
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     777,390
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              113,350
<BONDS>                                            430,096
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               149
<OTHER-SE>                                         196,371
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       777,390
<SALES>                                            363,609
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   363,609
<CGS>                                              276,764
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      276,764
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    54,406
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  16,573
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     16,419
<INCOME-TAX>                                         9,513
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  6,906
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         6,906
<EPS-BASIC>                                          .49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .49