<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>                                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1998

<PERIOD-END>                                   FEB-28-1998                        
<CASH>                                         1,343
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  82,761
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    76,621
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               165,261
<PP&E>                                         90,341
<DEPRECIATION>                                 24,210
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 241,737
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          121,465
<BONDS>                                        36,114
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    80
<COMMON>                                       3,800
<OTHER-SE>                                     74,521
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   241,737
<SALES>                                        77,245
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               77,245
<CGS>                                          50,098
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  50,098
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               10,827
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             895
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                15,525
<INCOME-TAX>                                   5,744
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            9,757
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   9,757
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.26 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.24