<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 43,544 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 71,372 <ALLOWANCES> 1,621 <INVENTORY> 47,909 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 170,037 <PP&E> 67,249 <DEPRECIATION> 41,937 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 257,073 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 56,570 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3,721 <OTHER-SE> 172,543 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 257,073 <SALES> 220,176 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 220,176 <CGS> 71,699 <TOTAL-COSTS> 93,449 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 94,998 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 781 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,764 <INCOME-TAX> 13,270 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,494 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,494 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.12 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.12