<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT APRIL 30, 1998, AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1998
<CASH>                                       1,073,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               16,554,000<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                 13,527,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            32,381,000
<PP&E>                                      12,410,000<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              73,054,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       15,860,000
<BONDS>                                     49,379,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        71,000
<OTHER-SE>                                   5,956,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                73,054,000
<SALES>                                     80,337,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0
<CGS>                                       30,621,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               73,751,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             (102,000)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           4,727,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,961,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,961,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,961,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.28<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE NET OF ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS.
<F2>PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION.
<F3>THIS IS NOW REFERRED TO AS EPS-BASIC.
</FN>