<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SBM
INDUSTRIES, INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD
ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                          66,000                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,706,000                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                   175,000                       0
<INVENTORY>                                  2,779,000                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             4,550,000                       0
<PP&E>                                       2,310,000                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                 745,000                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,018,000                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        2,445,000                       0
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                     2,026,000                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,546,000                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,018,000                       0
<SALES>                                      6,251,000               7,750,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             6,251,000               7,750,000
<CGS>                                        3,870,000               4,669,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,575,000               2,960,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             102,000                  81,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (296,000)                  40,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (296,000)                  40,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0               (372,000)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (296,000)               (332,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.14)                   (.16)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>