<ARTICLE> 5 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> APR-04-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 1,412 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 36,324 <ALLOWANCES> (1,155) <INVENTORY> 28,730 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 71,096 <PP&E> 57,628 <DEPRECIATION> (8,971) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 297,646 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 48,905 <BONDS> 187,641 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 69,326 <OTHER-SE> (11,369) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 297,646 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 48,416 <CGS> 36,774 <TOTAL-COSTS> 36,774 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 6,431 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,096 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,199 <INCOME-PRETAX> (821) <INCOME-TAX> 138 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (959) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (959) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0