<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and six months ended March 31, 1999, included herein 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-30-1999 SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 19217 19217 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 102506 102506 <ALLOWANCES> 3912 3912 <INVENTORY> 106604 106604 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 244411 244411 <PP&E> 357854 357854 <DEPRECIATION> 231325 231325 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 553114 553114 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 114482 114482 <BONDS> 177650 177650 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 106 106 <OTHER-SE> 220764 220764 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 553114 553114 <SALES> 144408 289316 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 144408 289316 <CGS> 107564 217579 <TOTAL-COSTS> 137286 268856 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (65) 706 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3282 6523 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3905 13231 <INCOME-TAX> 1562 5292 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2343 7939 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 2064 7268 <EPS-PRIMARY> .18 .64 <EPS-DILUTED> .18 .64