<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM _______________________________________ AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 0 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 30,459,267 <ALLOWANCES> 1,643,231 <INVENTORY> 25,463,121 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,049,140 <PP&E> 38,874,639 <DEPRECIATION> 19,785,302 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 185,990,348 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 87,725,167 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,665 <OTHER-SE> 82,894,990 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 185,990,348 <SALES> 112,752,859 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 112,752,859 <CGS> 76,475,095 <TOTAL-COSTS> 76,475,095 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,855,517 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,110,601) <INCOME-TAX> 377,970 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,488,571) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,488,571) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.17) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.17)