<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                                9704
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       169312
<ALLOWANCES>                                          3798
<INVENTORY>                                          86561
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    280534
<PP&E>                                               63634
<DEPRECIATION>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      347485
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               165534
<BONDS>                                              27327
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                            124883
<OTHER-SE>                                           24241
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        347485
<SALES>                                             316071
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                         0
<CGS>                                               179106
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     94474
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    2735
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      39756
<INCOME-TAX>                                         14219
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  25537
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         25537
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.08