<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 75,339 <SECURITIES> 77,284 <RECEIVABLES> 96,930 <ALLOWANCES> 4,669 <INVENTORY> 68,953 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 342,326 <PP&E> 224,412 <DEPRECIATION> 116,531 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 467,580 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 114,846 <BONDS> 5,767 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 483 <OTHER-SE> 343,609 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 467,580 <SALES> 722,581 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 722,581 <CGS> 563,913 <TOTAL-COSTS> 563,913 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 50,641 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,994 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (688)<F1> <INCOME-PRETAX> 107,339 <INCOME-TAX> 39,188 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 68,151 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 68,151 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.61<F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 1.43<F3> <FN> <F1>Interest expense is net of Interest Income; the net amount is Interest Expense. <F2>EPS is reported as "Basic EPS" <F3>EPS is reported as "Diluted EPS" </FN>