<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE FINANCIAL DATE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          16,926
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  189,281
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,077
<INVENTORY>                                    243,617
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               485,713
<PP&E>                                         277,648
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0<F1>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 991,261
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          255,052
<BONDS>                                        164,995
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        51,852
<OTHER-SE>                                     456,950
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   991,261
<SALES>                                        612,868<F2>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               612,868
<CGS>                                          453,001<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  453,001
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              13,080
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 87,095
<INCOME-TAX>                                    30,594
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             56,501
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    56,501
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.23
<FN>
<F1>This amount is not disclosed in the financial statements and thus a value of
zero has been shown for purposes of this financial data schedule.
<F2>These line items include certain amounts related to non-tangible products
(i.e.,) services, however, since the amounts related to services are not
disclosed in the financial statements, the total revenue and CGS figures,
respectively, have been shown on these line items for purposes of this
financial data schedule.
</FN>