<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 10Q FILING FOR SIX MONTHS ENDED 10/1/00 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001 MAR-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-2000 APR-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> OCT-01-2000 OCT-03-1999 <CASH> 25,145 45,765 <SECURITIES> 427 427 <RECEIVABLES> 262,407 244,881 <ALLOWANCES> 984 1,056 <INVENTORY> 39,002 53,629 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 337,643 351,050 <PP&E> 572,724 572,162 <DEPRECIATION> (250,498) (236,534) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 886,845 905,984 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 341,580 356,593 <BONDS> 242,209 277,109 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 208 139 <OTHER-SE> 148,651 114,808 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 886,845 905,984 <SALES> 541,703 525,510 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 541,703 525,510 <CGS> 432,541 417,202 <TOTAL-COSTS> 432,541 417,202 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,783 4,805 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,945 17,462 <INCOME-PRETAX> 47,187 40,830 <INCOME-TAX> 16,138 10,232 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 31,049 30,598 <DISCONTINUED> 0 9,450 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 31,049 40,048 <EPS-BASIC> 2.27 2.61 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.23 2.55