<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000927362
<NAME> PRI AUTOMATION, INC.
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-28-1997
<CASH>                                          38,908
<SECURITIES>                                     3,078
<RECEIVABLES>                                   58,833
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,300)
<INVENTORY>                                     31,859
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               156,408
<PP&E>                                          23,128
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (9,462)      
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 172,818
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           41,887
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           196
<OTHER-SE>                                     130,581
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   172,818
<SALES>                                         65,133
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                65,133
<CGS>                                           36,076
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   36,076
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                27,035<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   700
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,171
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,578
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              (407)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     (407)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.02)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.02)
<FN>
<F1>Includes $8,417 in-process R&D.
</FN>