<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               MAY-03-1998
<PERIOD-START>                  APR-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    FEB-01-1998
<CASH>                                             348
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   74,744
<ALLOWANCES>                                    (1,635)
<INVENTORY>                                     75,032
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               155,691
<PP&E>                                         205,912
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (92,254)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 327,322
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           51,665
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           635
<OTHER-SE>                                     120,978
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   327,322
<SALES>                                        340,881
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               340,881
<CGS>                                          280,510
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  280,510
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,159
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,280
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,457
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,357
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.88