<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 7727 7727 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 84733 84733 <ALLOWANCES> 3279 3279 <INVENTORY> 89177 89177 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 198009 198009 <PP&E> 318219 318219 <DEPRECIATION> 211224 211224 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 332182 332182 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 75493 75493 <BONDS> 17679 17679 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 106 106 <OTHER-SE> 204003 204003 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 332182 332182 <SALES> 113160 211300 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 113160 211300 <CGS> 81563 154622 <TOTAL-COSTS> 100975 192753 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1044 1591 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 444 785 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10697 16171 <INCOME-TAX> 4314 6449 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5415 7873 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 5415 7873 <EPS-PRIMARY> .48 .69 <EPS-DILUTED> .48 .69