<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 46,520 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 35,791 <ALLOWANCES> 1,241 <INVENTORY> 123,691 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 213,057 <PP&E> 308,705 <DEPRECIATION> 100,278 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 591,590 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 100,728 <BONDS> 221,036 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 538 <OTHER-SE> 256,290 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 591,590 <SALES> 371,279 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 371,279 <CGS> 165,096 <TOTAL-COSTS> 154,147 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,425 <INCOME-PRETAX> 44,134 <INCOME-TAX> 17,654 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 26,480 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 26,480 <EPS-BASIC> 0.40 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.38