<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-31-1999

<PERIOD-END>                  FEB-28-1999 
<CASH>                         9,203
<SECURITIES>                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                 90,836
<ALLOWANCES>                   0
<INVENTORY>                   106,874
<CURRENT-ASSETS>              218,406
<PP&E>                        94,522
<DEPRECIATION>                28,750
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                294,324
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         151,706
<BONDS>                       101,106
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>         0
<PREFERRED>                   80
<COMMON>                      3,855
<OTHER-SE>                    72,613
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  294,324
<SALES>                       72,800
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              72,800
<CGS>                         49,684
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 49,684
<OTHER-EXPENSES>              17,947
<LOSS-PROVISION>              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>            1,093
<INCOME-PRETAX>               4,278
<INCOME-TAX>                  1,872
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           2,406
<DISCONTINUED>                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                0
<CHANGES>                      0
<NET-INCOME>                  2,406
<EPS-PRIMARY>                  .06
<EPS-DILUTED>                  .06