<ARTICLE> 5  
<LEGEND>  
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE  
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET, STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS  
AND ACCOMPANYING NOTES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES.  
</LEGEND>  
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000  
         
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-28-1997  
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-1996  
<CASH>                                           9,590  
<SECURITIES>                                         0  
<RECEIVABLES>                                  166,676  
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,925  
<INVENTORY>                                    252,275  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               472,044  
<PP&E>                                         343,139  
<DEPRECIATION>                                 118,743  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 832,700  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          285,337  
<BONDS>                                        203,094  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0  
<PREFERRED>                                          0  
<COMMON>                                         2,184  
<OTHER-SE>                                     293,572  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   832,700  
<SALES>                                        626,073  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               626,073  
<CGS>                                          536,758  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  536,758  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                40,431  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   767  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,380  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (1,082)  
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (649)  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              (433)  
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0  
<CHANGES>                                            0  
<NET-INCOME>                                     (433)  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.02)  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00