<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                     6-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         OCT-31-1997             OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                            NOV-01-1996             NOV-01-1995 
<PERIOD-END>                              APR-30-1997             APR-30-1996  
<CASH>                                          1,841                   6,389
<SECURITIES>                                        0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  43,329                  44,162
<ALLOWANCES>                                    (350)                   (350)   
<INVENTORY>                                    82,569                 121,036
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              137,258                 176,900 
<PP&E>                                         95,955                 102,267 
<DEPRECIATION>                               (48,515)                (44,170)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                308,624                 360,185 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          86,949                  77,699
<BONDS>                                        74,216                  75,155 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                       0 
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<COMMON>                                            0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   (26,569)                 (3,367)
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<SALES>                                       271,790                 243,670
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              271,790                 243,670
<CGS>                                         241,607                 211,938
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 272,453                 238,797
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                       0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              7,195                   6,472
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (7,858)                 (1,554)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (2,251)                     380 
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0                       0 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0                       0