<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-27-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-29-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-29-1998 <CASH> 7,813 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 85,328 <ALLOWANCES> 451 <INVENTORY> 26,803 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 154,259 <PP&E> 182,444 <DEPRECIATION> 64,783 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 355,912 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 147,229 <BONDS> 189,389 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 22,176 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 355,912 <SALES> 226,186 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 226,186 <CGS> 187,937 <TOTAL-COSTS> 187,937 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,968 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,135 <INCOME-TAX> 1,549 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,586 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,662 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0