<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000 <CASH> 42,914 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 972,865 <ALLOWANCES> 24,162 <INVENTORY> 674,876 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,740,115 <PP&E> 1,865,517 <DEPRECIATION> 839,787 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,367,586 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,526,798 <BONDS> 853,998 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,148,770 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,367,586 <SALES> 6,227,645 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 6,331,294 <CGS> 6,103,220 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 907 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43,008 <INCOME-PRETAX> 58,729 <INCOME-TAX> 2,576 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 56,153 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 56,153 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0