<ARTICLE>                                          5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FILED AS
PART OF THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                   1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                           SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                             FEB-28-1997
<CASH>                                                         6,921
<SECURITIES>                                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                 26,948
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     523
<INVENTORY>                                                   97,656
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             145,258
<PP&E>                                                       261,203
<DEPRECIATION>                                               106,319
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               424,012
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         40,233
<BONDS>                                                      108,080
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              0
<PREFERRED>                                                        0
<COMMON>                                                      10,348
<OTHER-SE>                                                   216,591
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                 424,012
<SALES>                                                      159,299
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                             159,299
<CGS>                                                        143,261
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                153,759
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              (1,025)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                 523
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             2,032
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                6,313
<INCOME-TAX>                                                   2,154
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            4,159
<DISCONTINUED>                                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                    0
<CHANGES>                                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                                   4,159
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                   0.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                   0.40