<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1996 <CASH> 1,449,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 55,824,000 <ALLOWANCES> (1,260,000) <INVENTORY> 52,373,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 114,728,000 <PP&E> 59,317,000 <DEPRECIATION> 34,872,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 169,957,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 38,604,000 <BONDS> 26,543,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,261,000 <OTHER-SE> 88,456,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 169,957,000 <SALES> 167,883,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 167,883,000 <CGS> 109,697,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 151,660,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (809,000) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,030,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,002,000 <INCOME-TAX> 5,110,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,892,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,892,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .86 <EPS-DILUTED> .86