<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
Consolidated  Financial Statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements. 
</LEGEND>
                                            
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   Mar-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         474
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  19,938
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (743)
<INVENTORY>                                    57,898
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               81,812
<PP&E>                                         63,580
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (39,391)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 149,016
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          42,068
<BONDS>                                        84,632
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          9
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       11
<OTHER-SE>                                     (105,895)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   149,016
<SALES>                                        28,374
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               28,374
<CGS>                                          10,827
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  10,827
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               17,953
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             3,605
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (4,011)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (4,011)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,011)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.92)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.92)