<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1997 <CASH> 17,175,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 38,029,000 <ALLOWANCES> 1,574,000 <INVENTORY> 36,323,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 93,791,000 <PP&E> 63,279,000 <DEPRECIATION> 16,201,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 165,456,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 32,861,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 81,000 <OTHER-SE> 129,069,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 129,150,000 <SALES> 174,512,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 174,512,000 <CGS> 128,408,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 15,741,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (765,000) <LOSS-PROVISION> (55,000) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 77,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,426,000 <INCOME-TAX> 6,095,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,314,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.22 <EPS-DILUTED> 0