<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 982 <SECURITIES> 254 <RECEIVABLES> 23,494 <ALLOWANCES> 6,733 <INVENTORY> 5,261 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 38,640 <PP&E> 12,317 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 73,306 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 27,852 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,979 <OTHER-SE> 2,223 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 73,306 <SALES> 49,638 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 51,370 <CGS> 42,898 <TOTAL-COSTS> 52,667 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 744 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,297) <INCOME-TAX> (387) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (910) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (910) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.31) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.31)