<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>