<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 5,377 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 123,573 <ALLOWANCES> 2,673 <INVENTORY> 173,801 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 309,068 <PP&E> 66,344 <DEPRECIATION> 24,265 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 431,233 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 101,056 <BONDS> 172,330 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 100,410 <OTHER-SE> 50,942 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 151,352 <SALES> 890,737 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 890,737 <CGS> 703,068 <TOTAL-COSTS> 703,068 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 156,594 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,138 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,309 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,766 <INCOME-TAX> 8,685 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,081 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 675 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,406 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.03 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.00