<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 10065 55135 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 49503 45033 <ALLOWANCES> 483 350 <INVENTORY> 69331 68732 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 140490 172917 <PP&E> 38273 35405 <DEPRECIATION> 0 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 210084 222514 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 38661 35344 <BONDS> 129297 129985 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 61 61 <OTHER-SE> 42065 54914 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 210084 222514 <SALES> 302789 303911 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 302789 303911 <CGS> 264861 249756 <TOTAL-COSTS> 316067 287910 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8339 6184 <INCOME-PRETAX> (21617) 9817 <INCOME-TAX> (8470) 3677 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (13147) 6140 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (13147) 6140 <EPS-PRIMARY> (2.15) 1.01 <EPS-DILUTED> (2.15) .98