<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FILED AS
PART OF THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                            SEP-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                              FEB-28-1997
<CASH>                                                          2,096
<SECURITIES>                                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                  27,741
<ALLOWANCES>                                                      495
<INVENTORY>                                                    96,505
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              145,286
<PP&E>                                                        267,396
<DEPRECIATION>                                                120,511
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                446,273
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                          38,245
<BONDS>                                                       109,333
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                         0
<COMMON>                                                        9,986
<OTHER-SE>                                                    233,064
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                  446,273
<SALES>                                                       187,298
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              187,298
<CGS>                                                         166,392
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                 176,896
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                (810)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                  145
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              2,689
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                15,486
<INCOME-TAX>                                                    5,420
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            10,066
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0
<CHANGES>                                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                                   10,066
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    1.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0.99