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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.8
 
To the Shareholders of
  THL-Omega Holding Corporation:
 
     We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of
our report dated January 27, 1996 on our audit of the financial statements of
operations and retained earnings and cash flows of THL-Omega Holding Corporation
for the three months ended March 31, 1995. We also consent to the reference of
our Firm as experts under the caption "Experts."
 
                                            COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
St. Louis, Missouri
   
October 17, 1997