<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>            THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                    EXTRACTED FROM THE STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
                    POSITION AND CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS LISTED IN ITEM 14 OF
                    THIS REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
                    BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
                                                                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                          YEAR
<CASH>                                                               22,908
<SECURITIES>                                                          8,489
<RECEIVABLES>                                                       118,489
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          8,295
<INVENTORY>                                                         134,266
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    348,044
<PP&E>                                                              154,349
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       49,169
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      726,357
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               239,824
<BONDS>                                                             160,957
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<COMMON>                                                              6,285
<OTHER-SE>                                                          224,433
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        726,357
<SALES>                                                             353,018
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                          0
<CGS>                                                               250,443
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                             0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    4,340
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      35,402
<INCOME-TAX>                                                         13,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  22,002
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      (16,702)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          5,300
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           .43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0