<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 1,141,433 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 19,416,933 <ALLOWANCES> 501,035 <INVENTORY> 30,855,521 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 52,723,578 <PP&E> 12,451,400 <DEPRECIATION> 3,602,927 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 91,533,884 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 36,621,230 <BONDS> 26,834,631 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 2,500 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 131,470 <OTHER-SE> 25,617,759 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 91,533,884 <SALES> 75,247,061 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 75,247,061 <CGS> 58,963,580 <TOTAL-COSTS> 58,963,580 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,382,323 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,144,021 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,242,677 <INCOME-TAX> 1,169,805 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,815,297 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,815,297 <EPS-PRIMARY> .13 <EPS-DILUTED> .13