<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Company's Audited  Financial  Statements for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         107,605
<SECURITIES>                                   7,982
<RECEIVABLES>                                  107,252
<ALLOWANCES>                                   2,149
<INVENTORY>                                    45,602
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               272,204
<PP&E>                                         88,262
<DEPRECIATION>                                 42,614
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 376,819
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          81,984
<BONDS>                                        200
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       155,246
<OTHER-SE>                                     136,681
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   376,819
<SALES>                                        501,907
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               501,907
<CGS>                                          318,002
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  318,002
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               126,242
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,331
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                51,782
<INCOME-TAX>                                   13,463
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            38,319
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   38,319
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.84
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.79