<ARTICLE> 5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-02-1998
<CASH>                                            6882
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    98105
<ALLOWANCES>                                      2159
<INVENTORY>                                      63648
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                177268
<PP&E>                                          252778
<DEPRECIATION>                                   50544
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  536496
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            99691
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         20606
<OTHER-SE>                                      126551
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    536496
<SALES>                                         298788
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                298788
<CGS>                                           248390
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   267169
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                5340
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  26279
<INCOME-TAX>                                     10395
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              15884
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     15884
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .56