<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 <CASH> 430,549 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,313,002 <ALLOWANCES> 608,004 <INVENTORY> 40,781,972 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 63,911,534 <PP&E> 77,646,340 <DEPRECIATION> 23,556,308 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 124,097,457 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,174,951 <BONDS> 12,854,146 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 159,262 <OTHER-SE> 82,954,298 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 124,097,457 <SALES> 38,589,126 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 38,589,126 <CGS> 20,810,228 <TOTAL-COSTS> 20,810,228 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 304,898 <INCOME-PRETAX> (411,627) <INCOME-TAX> (160,485) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (251,142) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (251,142) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.01) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.01)