<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from financial
information for MMH Holdings, Inc. and is qualified in its entirety to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1998             OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1997             AUG-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1998             OCT-31-1998
<CASH>                                           2,534                   2,534
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   83,553                  83,553
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,606)                 (1,606)
<INVENTORY>                                     42,561                  42,561
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               138,509                 138,509
<PP&E>                                          67,649                  67,649
<DEPRECIATION>                                (26,579)                (26,579)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 310,997                 310,997
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           77,953                  77,953
<BONDS>                                        261,824                 261,824
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           95,351                  95,351
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   (127,193)               (127,193)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   310,997                 310,997
<SALES>                                        317,857                  86,182
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               319,188                  86,396
<CGS>                                          226,991                  59,667
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   61,355                  17,259
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 4,168<F1>               1,107<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            (17,975)                 (6,811)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  8,726                   1,545
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (4,435)                 (1,539)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,291                       6
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,291                       6
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
<FN>
<F1>As a result of the Recapitalization and subsequent restructuring, the 
Company recognized certain non-recurring employee benefit costs.  These
costs included Employee Termination costs associated with restructuring
the Company's United Kingdom and United States manufacturing operations and 
Divestiture Bonuses to certain members of management.  The Company's former 
parent, not the Company, is responsible for making these bonus payments.  The
Employee Termination costs were approximately $1.8 million and the bonuses to
management were approximately $1.2 million.

Parent management fees allocated by HII (prior to the Recapitalization) which
represented an allocation of HII's corporate expenses were $1.2 million and 
$2.9 million for fiscal year 1998 and 1997, respectively.

<F2>As a result of the Recapitalization and subsequent restructuring, the 
Company recognized certain non-recurring employee benefit costs.  These costs 
included Employee Termination costs associated with restructuring the Company's
United Kingdom and United States manufacturing operations.  $1.1 million of 
those costs were in recognized in the fourth fiscal quarter of 1998.

Parent management fees allocated by HII (prior to the Recapitilization) which 
represented and allocation of HII's corporate expenses were $0.0 million and
$0.8 for the fourth fiscal quarter of 1998 and the fourth fiscal quarter of 
1997, respectively.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>