<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Consolidated Financial Statements for the first quarter ended December 31, 1998, included herein and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 18024 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 106339 <ALLOWANCES> 4143 <INVENTORY> 105568 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 245787 <PP&E> 354981 <DEPRECIATION> 226568 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 558762 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 109249 <BONDS> 185685 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 106 <OTHER-SE> 223611 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 558762 <SALES> 144908 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 144908 <CGS> 110015 <TOTAL-COSTS> 131570 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 771 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3241 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9326 <INCOME-TAX> 3730 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5596 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5204 <EPS-PRIMARY> .46 <EPS-DILUTED> .46