<ARTICLE>                     5
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         JUL-31-1998 
<PERIOD-START>                            AUG-01-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                              APR-30-1998 
<CASH>                                        596,000 
<SECURITIES>                                        0 
<RECEIVABLES>                              25,078,000 
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0 
<INVENTORY>                                 4,714,000 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           33,328,000 
<PP&E>                                     26,940,000 
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            105,285,000 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      35,720,000 
<BONDS>                                             0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0 
<PREFERRED>                                         0 
<COMMON>                                      136,000 
<OTHER-SE>                                 40,543,000 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              105,285,000 
<SALES>                                   127,110,000 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                          127,110,000 
<CGS>                                      99,868,000 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             119,407,000 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             (162,000)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          3,359,000 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             4,506,000 
<INCOME-TAX>                                2,630,000 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 0 
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0 
<CHANGES>                                           0 
<NET-INCOME>                                1,876,000 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.14 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.14