<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR
THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS 
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         249,923                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,189,690                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    666,279                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,425,734                       0
<PP&E>                                       4,596,183                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                               2,295,347                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,018,670                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        2,754,032                       0
<BONDS>                                      3,810,057<F1>                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        56,563                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   3,532,471                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 9,018,670                       0
<SALES>                                      4,793,396               5,687,197
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             4,821,118               5,736,570
<CGS>                                        2,995,965               3,576,440
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                6,902,523<F2>           7,889,574<F3>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              (823,382)                 (8,377)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             801,138               2,582,667
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             (1,479,786)             (4,458,048)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0               (316,000)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         (1,479,786)             (4,142,048)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                (1,479,786)             (4,142,048)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (.26)                  (1.12)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.26)                  (1.12)
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES THE CURRENT PORTION OF LONG TERM DEBT
<F2>EXCLUDES THE TRANSLATION GAIN OF 187,730
<F3>EXCLUDES TRANSLATION GAIN OF 286,000
</FN>
        

</TABLE>