<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from SEC
     Form 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
     financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

       
                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAY-31-1997
<CASH>                                         869
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  127,495
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    41,242
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               172,743
<PP&E>                                         86,112
<DEPRECIATION>                                 23,761
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 248,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          120,955
<BONDS>                                        32,693
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    60
<COMMON>                                       2,821
<OTHER-SE>                                     88,846
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   248,000
<SALES>                                        189,167
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               189,167
<CGS>                                          119,933
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  119,933
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,083
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                39,580
<INCOME-TAX>                                   14,073
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            14,073
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   25,462
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.85