<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-2000
<CASH>                                           2,498
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  122,682
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,821
<INVENTORY>                                     86,204
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               222,380
<PP&E>                                         285,073
<DEPRECIATION>                                  58,435
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 870,962
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          135,058
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           186
<OTHER-SE>                                     285,471
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   870,962
<SALES>                                        464,818
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               464,818
<CGS>                                          344,012
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  414,715
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,096
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              18,754
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 33,390
<INCOME-TAX>                                    14,321
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    19,069
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.03