<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 3,757 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 41,889 <ALLOWANCES> 360 <INVENTORY> 46,894 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 97,772 <PP&E> 47,677 <DEPRECIATION> 26,691 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 119,820 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 44,250 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 148 <OTHER-SE> 73,924 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 119,820 <SALES> 95,905 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 95,905 <CGS> 85,611 <TOTAL-COSTS> 85,611 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,276 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,204 <INCOME-TAX> 2,459 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,745 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,745 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.25 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.23