<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM SEC
FORM 10-K AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.

<CIK>                                      0001005229
<NAME>                  COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 APR-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                               7,582
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      143,401
<ALLOWANCES>                                         2,236
<INVENTORY>                                        108,291
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   299,174
<PP&E>                                              87,297
<DEPRECIATION>                                      52,887
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     759,824
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              111,325
<BONDS>                                            410,258
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               149
<OTHER-SE>                                         203,304
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       759,824
<SALES>                                            736,254
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   736,254
<CGS>                                              556,145
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      556,145
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   112,067
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  34,698
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     34,658
<INCOME-TAX>                                        17,578
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 17,080
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        17,080
<EPS-BASIC>                                           1.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.20