<ARTICLE>                          5
<LEGEND>
The schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
Company's Financial  Statements  as of  March 31, 1998 and is  qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                              1000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                               24,529
<SECURITIES>                                            647
<RECEIVABLES>                                        59,781
<ALLOWANCES>                                          1,417
<INVENTORY>                                          45,055
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    159,152
<PP&E>                                              241,890
<DEPRECIATION>                                       64,872
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      471,916
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               137,405
<BONDS>                                             245,950
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                              5,139
<OTHER-SE>                                           31,381
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        471,916
<SALES>                                             115,217
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    115,217
<CGS>                                                99,862
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       110,830
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    6,348
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        (972)
<INCOME-TAX>                                            536
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    (436)
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                           (436)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         (0.31)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         (0.31)