<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>            THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                    EXTRACTED FROM THE STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
                    POSITION AND CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS INCLUDED IN PART I OF
                    THIS REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
                    BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
                                                                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                    SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         6-MOS
<CASH>                                                               10,849
<SECURITIES>                                                          6,421
<RECEIVABLES>                                                       125,393
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              0
<INVENTORY>                                                         123,108
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    351,081
<PP&E>                                                              159,113
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       54,970
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      731,603
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               251,321
<BONDS>                                                             150,423
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<COMMON>                                                              6,329
<OTHER-SE>                                                          238,559
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        731,603
<SALES>                                                             322,597
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                          0
<CGS>                                                               227,576
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                             0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    9,374
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      24,862
<INCOME-TAX>                                                         10,690
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  14,172
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         14,172
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0