<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1998 NOV-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1998 MAY-31-1997 <CASH> 6,078 13,901 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 129,258 106,743 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 125,993 107,553 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 274,353 243,506 <PP&E> 161,288 125,853 <DEPRECIATION> 0 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 498,013 432,967 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 101,907 90,490 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 12,969 12,941 <OTHER-SE> 0 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 498,013 432,967 <SALES> 239,500 239,786 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 239,500 239,786 <CGS> 178,972 176,895 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 54,644 52,732 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,058 5,709 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,461 9,550 <INCOME-TAX> 1,911 3,342 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,550 6,208 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,550 6,208 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.89 1.55 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.86 1.53