<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1999             OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1998             NOV-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1999             JUL-31-1998
<CASH>                                             597                   1,629
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   63,274                  55,218
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (350)                   (350)
<INVENTORY>                                     77,663                  86,187
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               149,451                 150,679
<PP&E>                                         104,748                  98,338
<DEPRECIATION>                                  62,232                  55,138
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 304,353                 313,721
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           91,747                  93,629
<BONDS>                                         74,344                  74,287
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                      5,000                   5,000
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                    (46,843)                (42,006)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   304,353                 313,721
<SALES>                                        263,019                 275,347
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               263,019                 275,347
<CGS>                                          233,631                 251,462
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  263,497                 279,896
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,093                   9,748
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (8,571)                (14,297)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,773)                 (3,794)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (6,798)                (10,503)
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0