<ARTICLE>                       5
<MULTIPLIER>                    1000
<CURRENCY>                      U.S. DOLLARS
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                              APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                         1
<CASH>                                              21991
<SECURITIES>                                            0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       51964
<ALLOWANCES>                                            0
<INVENTORY>                                         57538
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   155152
<PP&E>                                             225292
<DEPRECIATION>                                          0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     385896
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              101089
<BONDS>                                             33831
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                             0
<COMMON>                                               52
<OTHER-SE>                                         250565
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       385896
<SALES>                                            240747
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   240747
<CGS>                                              120809
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      120809
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   2821
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     47351
<INCOME-TAX>                                        12784
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 34567
<DISCONTINUED>                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         0
<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                        34567
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0.64
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0.63