<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 17,838,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 198,791,000 <ALLOWANCES> 9,755,000 <INVENTORY> 109,871,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 345,370,000 <PP&E> 223,292,000 <DEPRECIATION> 80,761,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 560,118,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 130,572,000 <BONDS> 159,894,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,937,000 <OTHER-SE> 244,356,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 560,118,000 <SALES> 539,650,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 539,650,000 <CGS> 404,349,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 404,349,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,235,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,099,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,924,000 <INCOME-TAX> 7,170,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,035,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (5,290,000) <NET-INCOME> 5,745,000 <EPS-BASIC> 0.19 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.19