<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1996             AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1996             FEB-28-1997
<CASH>                                           7,797                   2,326
<SECURITIES>                                       710                     466
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,835<F1>              22,780<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (817)                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     11,650                  11,679
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                47,360                  41,950
<PP&E>                                         104,123                  76,068<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                (34,350)                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 152,227                 148,180
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           25,990                  27,580
<BONDS>                                        116,108                 116,684
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            12                      11
<OTHER-SE>                                     (3,813)                (10,215)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   152,227                 148,180
<SALES>                                        159,462                  79,971
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               159,462                  79,971
<CGS>                                          117,592                  65,089
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  141,783                  75,835
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                12,657                   4,458
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              13,576                   6,852
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (7,312)                 (6,885)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       865                 (1,650)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (8,177)                 (5,235)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  1,265                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (9,442)                 (5,235)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.88)                  (0.49)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.88)                  (0.49)
<FN>
<F1>Shown Net of Allowance for both periods.
<F2>Shown Net of Depreciation for three month period
</FN>