<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-27-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-29-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-27-1998 <CASH> 3,317 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 81,781 <ALLOWANCES> 850 <INVENTORY> 24,069 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 138,106 <PP&E> 177,044 <DEPRECIATION> 58,843 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 328,396 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 141,680 <BONDS> 171,674 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 13,358 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 328,396 <SALES> 483,224 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 483,224 <CGS> 404,001 <TOTAL-COSTS> 404,001 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,814 <INCOME-PRETAX> (7,884) <INCOME-TAX> (538) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (7,346) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (7,067) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0