<ARTICLE>                                          5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS 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>                                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                           SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                             MAY-31-1997
<CASH>                                                         3,957
<SECURITIES>                                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                 26,333
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     524
<INVENTORY>                                                  106,505
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             148,479
<PP&E>                                                       263,406
<DEPRECIATION>                                               110,300
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               426,745
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         40,318
<BONDS>                                                      105,390
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              0
<PREFERRED>                                                        0
<COMMON>                                                      10,248
<OTHER-SE>                                                   222,247
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                 426,745
<SALES>                                                      248,596
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                             248,596
<CGS>                                                        219,434
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                234,877
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                             (4,441)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                  63
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             3,583
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                               19,077
<INCOME-TAX>                                                   6,494
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                           12,583
<DISCONTINUED>                                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                    0
<CHANGES>                                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                                  12,583
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                   1.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                   1.21