<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995             AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1994             SEP-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1995             FEB-29-1996
<CASH>                                             763                   14526
<SECURITIES>                                      1000                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    20323<F1>               20267<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                       813                     660
<INVENTORY>                                       9833                   10193
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 36467                   50171
<PP&E>                                           53132<F2>               64059<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                   27203                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  130326                  156557
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            21709                   17817
<BONDS>                                          86244                  116979
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            12                      12
<OTHER-SE>                                        6682                    4810
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    130326                  156557
<SALES>                                         124650                   73877
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                124650                   73877
<CGS>                                            91972                   55857
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   110303                   65109
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  3983                    2256
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                9105                    6641
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   1434                     555
<INCOME-TAX>                                      1294                     755
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                140                   (200)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                    1265
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       140                  (1465)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.04)                  (0.16)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.04)                  (0.16)
<FN>
<F1>SHOWN NET OF ALLOWANCE
<F2>SHOWN NET OF DEPRECIATION
</FN>