<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000 OCT-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999 NOV-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-2000 JUL-31-1999 <CASH> 1,992 597 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 69,452 63,274 <ALLOWANCES> (350) (350) <INVENTORY> 102,509 77,663 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 181,468 149,451 <PP&E> 127,932 104,748 <DEPRECIATION> 68,682 62,232 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 347,140 309,353 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 133,612 91,747 <BONDS> 67,896 74,344 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 5,000 5,000 <COMMON> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> (55,374) (46,843) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 347,140 304,353 <SALES> 302,379 263,019 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 302,379 263,019 <CGS> 262,338 233,631 <TOTAL-COSTS> 295,971 263,497 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,309 8,095 <INCOME-PRETAX> (3,901) (8,571) <INCOME-TAX> 336 (1,773) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (4,237) (6,798) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> (1,070) 0 <NET-INCOME> (5,307) (6,798) <EPS-BASIC> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0