<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 15,419 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 31,091 <ALLOWANCES> 1,562 <INVENTORY> 37,138 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 92,620 <PP&E> 145,351 <DEPRECIATION> 101,719 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 168,978 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 52,091 <BONDS> 54,982 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 800 <COMMON> 2,187 <OTHER-SE> 55,936 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 168,978 <SALES> 74,931 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 96,550 <CGS> 42,610 <TOTAL-COSTS> 56,267 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 57,891 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (2,811) <INCOME-PRETAX> (20,419) <INCOME-TAX> 500 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (20,919) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (20,919) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.02) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.02)