<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 11,473,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 97,256,000<F1> <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 124,177,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 253,474,000 <PP&E> 172,507,000 <DEPRECIATION> 38,178,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 497,021,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 114,558,000 <BONDS> 157,850,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 32,900,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,822,000 <OTHER-SE> 146,084,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 497,021,000 <SALES> 401,371,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 401,371,000 <CGS> 273,357,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 380,893,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (136,000)<F2> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,459,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,155,000 <INCOME-TAX> 3,904,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,996,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,996,000 <EPS-BASIC> $ 0.72 <EPS-DILUTED> $ 0.71 <FN> <F1>Net of allowances of $ 3,637,000 <F2>Includes equity in loss of other operations to be disposed of, $ 922,000. </FN>