<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 16,191,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 177,778,000 <ALLOWANCES> 8,484,000 <INVENTORY> 104,116,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 311,005,000 <PP&E> 201,833,000 <DEPRECIATION> 67,019,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 497,072,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 132,170,000 <BONDS> 114,003,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,930,000 <OTHER-SE> 230,545,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 497,072,000 <SALES> 258,557,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 258,557,000 <CGS> 196,431,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 196,431,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 447,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,498,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,352,000 <INCOME-TAX> 4,200,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,152,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,152,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .24 <EPS-DILUTED> .23