<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000906873 <NAME> ASAHI/AMERICA, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 3,028 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 5,291 <ALLOWANCES> 283 <INVENTORY> 8,673 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 17,222 <PP&E> 13,153 <DEPRECIATION> 3,285 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 28,443 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7,247 <BONDS> 3,760 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,638 <OTHER-SE> 2,566 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 28,443 <SALES> 37,894 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 37,894 <CGS> 23,968 <TOTAL-COSTS> 23,968 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 9,747 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 196 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,979 <INCOME-TAX> 1,541 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,438 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.82 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.82