<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 1,336,275 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 7,317,498 <ALLOWANCES> 543,912 <INVENTORY> 5,666,538 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 15,153,768 <PP&E> 22,858,824 <DEPRECIATION> 4,786,540 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 80,969,801 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 10,647,427 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 67,393 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 80,969,807 <SALES> 15,441,124 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 33,343,196 <CGS> 11,118,979 <TOTAL-COSTS> 27,304,788 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (1,423) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,565,737 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,474,094 <INCOME-TAX> 1,088,601 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,385,493 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,385,493 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.20 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.20