<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1997 <CASH> 481,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 56,460,000 <ALLOWANCES> (1,410,000) <INVENTORY> 58,548,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 118,138,000 <PP&E> 64,057,000 <DEPRECIATION> 36,155,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 183,818,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 41,633,000 <BONDS> 28,410,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,276,000 <OTHER-SE> 96,583,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 183,818,000 <SALES> 116,255,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 116,255,000 <CGS> 76,217,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 104,895,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (667,000) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,499,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,528,000 <INCOME-TAX> 3,900,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,628,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,628,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .62 <EPS-DILUTED> .62