<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, 1998 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-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          68,000                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,225,000                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                   175,000                       0
<INVENTORY>                                  3,392,000                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             4,773,000                       0
<PP&E>                                       2,303,000                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                 808,000                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,022,000                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        3,147,000                       0
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                     2,026,000                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,054,000                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,022,000                       0
<SALES>                                      6,112,000               6,251,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             6,112,000               6,251,000
<CGS>                                        3,399,000               3,870,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,925,000               2,575,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             100,000                 102,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (312,000)               (296,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (312,000)               (296,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (312,000)               (296,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.15)                   (.14)
        

</TABLE>