<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 12,528 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 51,836 <ALLOWANCES> 2,182 <INVENTORY> 41,654 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 110,553 <PP&E> 64,121 <DEPRECIATION> 16,033 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 281,853 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 57,864 <BONDS> 189,017 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 27,155 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 281,853 <SALES> 225,765 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 225,765 <CGS> 165,321 <TOTAL-COSTS> 165,321 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 54,461 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,200 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,277 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,493 <INCOME-TAX> 1,602 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,891 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,891 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0