<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 1,940,703 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 15,706,350 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 31,281,949 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 52,389,964 <PP&E> 41,789,816 <DEPRECIATION> 16,966,389 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 84,895,819 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 19,849,102 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 24,195,997 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 84,895,819 <SALES> 23,625,324 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 23,625,324 <CGS> 19,252,930 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,252,930 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 831,574 <INCOME-PRETAX> 511,537 <INCOME-TAX> 174,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 337,537 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 337,537 <EPS-PRIMARY> .07 <EPS-DILUTED> .07