<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 9-MOS 6-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 SEP-30-1996 SEP-30-1996 SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 OCT-01-1995 OCT-01-1995 OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 JUN-30-1996 MAR-31-1996 DEC-31-1995 <CASH> 2,897 2,012 3,091 3,799 <SECURITIES> 0 0 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 271,583 249,858 168,574 173,633 <ALLOWANCES> 6,224 6,707 7,033 6,623 <INVENTORY> 87,101 88,111 70,993 72,840 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 418,147 369,591 266,261 272,998 <PP&E> 941,898 762,936 757,723 749,802 <DEPRECIATION> 391,106 350,737 344,643 335,010 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,709,160 1,675,151 995,966 1,002,098 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 292,025 562,162 176,660 213,294 <BONDS> 0 0 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 0 0 <COMMON> 3,809 2,818 2,815 2,804 <OTHER-SE> 745,526 420,574 419,650 417,225 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,709,160 1,675,151 995,966 1,002,098 <SALES> 965,261 628,255 407,295 206,501 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 965,261 628,255 407,295 206,501 <CGS> 780,046 512,664 334,249 167,086 <TOTAL-COSTS> 780,046 512,664 334,249 167,086 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 110,311 72,627 44,878 21,858 <LOSS-PROVISION> 358 1,272 905 387 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26,948 16,749 11,095 5,538 <INCOME-PRETAX> 52,591 29,761 18,738 12,698 <INCOME-TAX> 12,105 7,121 5,170 3,553 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 40,486 22,640 13,568 9,145 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 40,486 22,640 13,568 9,145 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.66 0.41 0.24 0.16 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.65 0.40 0.24 0.16