<ARTICLE>                                                  5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS ON FORM 10Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>   US DOLLARS
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                MAY-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                   JUN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                     AUG-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                            1  
<CASH>                                                11,206
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        210,112
<ALLOWANCES>                                           2,954
<INVENTORY>                                          218,385
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     462,788
<PP&E>                                               839,489
<DEPRECIATION>                                       289,083
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     1,283,849
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                174,007
<BONDS>                                              298,870
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                                 910
<OTHER-SE>                                           668,622
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       1,283,849
<SALES>                                              402,571
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     402,571
<CGS>                                                344,896
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        344,896
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      25,224
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     3,725
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       31,765
<INCOME-TAX>                                          12,166
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   19,599
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                          19,599
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            .22