<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE THIRD QUARTER 10Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 21,605 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 225,205 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 196,363 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 467,085 <PP&E> 179,516 <DEPRECIATION> 49,759 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 793,122 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 272,245 <BONDS> 225,711 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,621 <OTHER-SE> 278,673 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 793,122 <SALES> 539,037 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 539,037 <CGS> 493,729 <TOTAL-COSTS> 493,729 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,269 <INCOME-PRETAX> 22,590 <INCOME-TAX> 6,738 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,978 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,297) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,681 <EPS-BASIC> 0.80 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.74