<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998 <CASH> 8,062 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 104,779 <ALLOWANCES> 369 <INVENTORY> 50,497 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 174,502 <PP&E> 63,022 <DEPRECIATION> 27,126 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 251,791 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 116,136 <BONDS> 47,070 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 80 <COMMON> 3,847 <OTHER-SE> 76,724 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 251,791 <SALES> 192,339 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 192,339 <CGS> 138,773 <TOTAL-COSTS> 47,298 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,241 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,186 <INCOME-TAX> 1,307 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,879 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,783 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.05 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.04