<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 6,114 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 49,979 <ALLOWANCES> 2,370 <INVENTORY> 27,406 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 96,084 <PP&E> 41,374 <DEPRECIATION> 3,536 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 181,523 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 48,957 <BONDS> 125,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 4,795 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 10 <OTHER-SE> (2,924) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 181,523 <SALES> 66,512 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 66,663 <CGS> 51,890 <TOTAL-COSTS> 63,622 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,658 <INCOME-PRETAX> (617) <INCOME-TAX> (189) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (524) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (524) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.63) <EPS-DILUTED> (.63)