<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated financial statements for the periods indicated and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <RESTATED> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 9-MOS 6-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 JUN-30-1997 MAR-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 15,414,000 10,060,000 18,820,000 24,650,000 <SECURITIES> 1,379,000 1,379,000 1,379,000 2,367,000 <RECEIVABLES> 152,142,000 121,647,000 109,819,000 119,260,000 <ALLOWANCES> 6,627,000 5,643,000 5,382,000 4,977,000 <INVENTORY> 88,123,000 73,561,000 71,235,000 69,597,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 264,107,000 213,390,000 211,803,000 226,337,000 <PP&E> 130,753,000 121,204,000 113,215,000 104,782,000 <DEPRECIATION> 53,673,000 52,417,000 49,938,000 47,472,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 384,759,000 312,499,000 304,183,000 313,878,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 129,100,000 97,062,000 87,793,000 97,671,000 <BONDS> 52,863,000 25,902,000 34,985,000 37,419,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 0 393,000 <COMMON> 7,820,000 7,732,000 7,723,000 7,326,000 <OTHER-SE> 193,985,000 180,724,000 172,457,000 169,799,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 384,759,000 312,499,000 304,183,000 313,878,000 <SALES> 770,227,000 535,671,000 342,551,000 181,744,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 770,227,000 535,671,000 342,551,000 181,744,000 <CGS> 571,132,000 398,591,000 256,281,000 135,761,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 571,132,000 398,591,000 256,281,000 135,761,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,312,000 1,124,000 793,000 522,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,475,000 2,061,000 1,479,000 775,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 53,033,000 33,384,000 19,285,000 12,328,000 <INCOME-TAX> 19,869,000 12,599,000 7,382,000 4,808,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 33,164,000 20,785,000 11,903,000 7,520,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 33,164,000 20,785,000 11,903,000 7,520,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> <F1> 1.12 .70 .41 .26 <EPS-DILUTED> <F1> 1.06 .67 .38 .24 <FN> <F1>EPS data have been restated in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" </FN>