<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> FEB-29-2000 <CASH> 55,234 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 715,390 <ALLOWANCES> 23,613 <INVENTORY> 670,549 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,614,767 <PP&E> 1,809,333 <DEPRECIATION> 820,232 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,136,924 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,376,074 <BONDS> 697,777 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,122,046 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,136,924 <SALES> 3,938,874 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,985,242 <CGS> 3,886,806 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 358 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26,957 <INCOME-PRETAX> (746) <INCOME-TAX> (5,737) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,991 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,991 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0